 Shudacudawudya
wins the Albany, $65,000 added, ridden by Francisco Duran, Trained
by Lloyd c. Mason, owned by Brett Mason, the 6 furlong race went in
1:09.04 - Stacia Mumm/Vassar Photography - story by Michael
Cusortelli for SureBet
Shudacudawudya Rallies to Win Albany Stakes
Berkeley, CA – Jan. 28, 2012 - Francisco Duran rode favorite
Shudacudawudya to a half-length victory in Saturday's $65,260 Albany
Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.
Saddled by Lloyd Mason for owner Brett Mason, Shudacudawudya covered
6 furlongs in 1:09.04 after closing on the early fractions of :22.62
and :4.534 set by pacesetter and eventual runner-up Live Sundays,
who was ridden by leading jockey Russell Baze. The homebred
5-year-old gelding returned a $4.60 win mutuel as the 13-10 favorite
in the field of six.
“I was a little concerned about Baze stealing the race – I just had
to wait as long as I could, but my horse responded when I asked
him,” said Duran, who has ridden Shudacudawudya in all 13 of the
gelding's starts.
Shudacudawudya is one of two stakes winners sired by Marino Marini,
a 12-year-old winning son of Storm Cat who ran second in the 2003
Malibu Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park. Marino Marini's 128 starters
have earned more than $4.05 million. The stallion is owned by and
stands for a $2,500 fee at Rancho San Miguel at San Miguel,
California.
Shudacudawudya is also one of four winners from six starters
produced by Sunny Miss, a 16-year-old mare by Cutlass Reality.
The $39,300 winner's share of the Albany Stakes purse increased
Shudacudawudya's bankroll to $234,156. The gelding's seven career
wins include the 2009 Golden Nugget Stakes for 2-year-olds at Golden
Gate, and he ran second as the 9-10 choice in last year's 6-furlong
Oakland Stakes at Golden Gate.
“He always gives 100 percent down the lane,” said Lloyd Mason of
Shudacudawudya. “He's got a big heart, and he shows it.”
Reagan Republican, a 24-1 longshot, finished third, one length
behind runner-up Live Sundays. Sourdough Sam, Gig Harbor, and
Soldiers Point completed the order of finish.
A $5,000 buy at the 2007 CTBA Northern California Yearling Sale,
Live Sundays has earned $260,520 from 21 outs. The 6-year-old High
Brite gelding was coming off of a third-place finish in a 6-furlong,
$38,000 allowance sprint on December 16 for his owners, Stan and
Fran Hodge.
Reagan Republican is an 8-year-old gelding by Siberian Summer
campaigned by David P. Taylor Jr. A $16,000 claimer back in '08,
Reagan Republican has won five of 31 races and has banked $186,266.
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