The 19th Running of the G1 Awesome Again
October 2, 2021 18:10
SA Race #9 $300.000 11/8 Dirt
3YOs 121 Lbs 4yo+ 124 Lbs
Track Record-1:46.74 (Imane-2013)
Stakes Record-1:46.83 (Risen Ruler-2012)
All summer and early fall, trainers have lamented the lack of 3yos beating their elders in some of HRP’s biggest races. At SA on Saturday, and with an automatic birth in the G1 BC Classic on the line, Breath Of The Wild and Freddo Cappucino put a serious dent in the aura of invincibility that had been surrounding the older horses as they ran 1-2 in the $300.000 G1 Awesome Again. Breath Of The Wild got his nose down on the wire as he just nipped his 3yo rival in a final time of 1:47.74 for the 9-furlongs.
Fallacious bolted out of the gate and established the early tempo as Freddo Cappuccino and Breath Of The Wild took up stalking positions about three length behind the Nakamura Stables frontrunner. About two lengths behind the pair of 3yos was Home Spirit and Dangerfield. Getting the half-mile in :47.13, Fallacious continued to maintain his three length lead on Freddo Cappuccino and the eventual winner while Home Spirit was travelling a solo fourth.
The race dynamics changed as Fallacious covered three-quarters in 1:10.88; he was still in front, but Freddo Cappuccino was within a half length and Breath Of The Wild was only a half-length behind him while running between the top two. Home Spirit was racing in the footsteps of Freddo Cappuccino and had about four lengths to make up on the leader.
At the top of the lane, Freddo Cappuccino emerged with the lead, but Breath Of The Wild was keeping pace with him and trying to erase his half-length advantage. Fallacious was still fighting down on the rail and Home Spirit had gotten within two lengths of the leader. Another two lengths back, out in the middle of the track, The Captain was launching a bid as well.
Down the stretch they came with Freddo Cappuccino and Breath Of The Wild eyballing each other. Fallacious was struggling, but still held third and Home Spirit was trying to get by that one from up the rail. With a furlong to go, Freddo Cappuccino was still clinging to his neck advantage over Breath Of The Wild. Behind them, Home Spirit was making-up ground on the rail, Fallacious was doing all he could from fourth, and Tactical was putting in a run from the back of the pack.
From the sixteenth pole to the wire, Breath Of The Wild and Freddo Cappuccino duked it out for the top prize, but the Smokey Stover-trained colt refused to allow Freddo Cappuccino to re-pass him and hit the wire with his head down to secure a nose victory. Home Spirit secured the show spot from the rail and Fallacious bravely held off Tactical and The Captain for fourth. Completing the order of finish were No More Haggis, Big Bang Raj, Antonym, Dangerfield, and That Funky Monkey.
With his win, Breath Of The Wild (State Police o/o Distant Cousin) took home automatic qualification to next month’s G1 BC Classic while improving his career record to 16-5-1-2 for earnings of $643.740. Freddo Cappuccino ran too well to lose, but had to settle for 2nd and the six BC points that came with it. Home Spirit was awarded four points for getting-up for the show.
Congratulations to Breath Of The Wild and Smokey Stover for their victory in the $300.000 G1 Awesome Again at SA. Good luck going forward to all of those who took part in a tremendous race!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
