Awesome Again Stakes (Grade 1) (BC)- $300.000 Purse
SA- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
September 26, 2020
We don’t get a chance to see many rivalries play out for a long time within the game, but perhaps that is developing between Splash Mountain and Tactical, two horses who’s combined earnings get near $10,000.000. In Tactical’s last nine races, he has gone up against Splash Mountain a total of eight times, including last year’s BC Classic. If they were frequently getting 1-2 finishes in those races then we really could call it a rivalry, but others have been getting in the way of that. Most notably, Crack Dab did in the Pacific Classic with an eye opening display. Those three are just some of strong contenders that we will see in the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes on Saturday. An automatic bid to the BC Classic awaits the winner, if they need it. Last year’s winner, Admiration, has not won since. A field of twelve will go at it this year, and here are those runners!
#1- For The Boys (Fractious, ridden by T Gaffalione)- Last picked up a win in a stake in October of last year, when he won the Grade 3 Greenwood Cup at PRX, and was able to get a cup of coffee in the BC Classic a month later. After that, several off the board finishes followed at the stake level, and he was sold to Fractious for $100.000 in April. Things have not really changed, with two more said finishes sandwiching a win in a four horse optional claimer at DMR.
#2- Splash Mountain (John Henry, ridden by R Bejarano)- The winner of the 2018 BC Classic is looking for his first win this year. That alone seems like a crazy statement concerning a horse with over $6,000.000 in earnings, and he has still managed to get a couple good results recently. His last three starts include a second place finish in the Suburban Handicap, then finishing third in the Whitney. Most recently, he was fifth in the Pacific Classic, only missing by a length and recording a 102 SRF. He’s fine, and that’s what makes no wins this year seem odd. Though, it is 2020, after all.
#3- So Profound (Asgar, ridden by D E Centeno)- The big moment for this horse came two starts ago, when he won the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap. However, in recent form that has unfortunately been the exception rather then the rule for the trainer. It is the only time in his last four races that he has been in the top five. His nine furlong races are not as good as his eight furlong races, either. Here, he is going to have to show that the Metropolitan win was not a fluke.
#4- Champion In Action (Night Rider Stables, ridden by F Pennington)- He has only been a champion in name this year, failing to win, or even finish in the top two in any of his six starts this year. For his last win, you have to go back to May 2019 in the Grade 1 Gold Cup. Recently, he has been seventh or worse in three of his last four races, and we’re not talking about finishes where he was part of ten horses hitting the wire at the same time in them. The trainer has confidence, but I can’t.
#5- Crack Dab (Gdp Inc, ridden by J Stein)- This one certainly got everyone’s attention last month, winning the Pacific Classic, in impressive fashion, last month. That was as a 26/1 longshot, though did come on the heels of finishing second in the Whitney just three weeks prior. Overall, he has won five of his last six, but most of those were in overnights. Everything has been clicking lately, for this one, and kudos to Gdp Inc on people able to get this out of him. If he pulls off a win here, he might actually become the favorite for the BC Classic instead of one of the better threats.
#6- Gran Z (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by A Beschizza)- After a little more then two months, this one will return to the track after winning the San Diego Handicap, earning a 102 SRF in the process, coming at DMR. It was a good bounce back for him following a disappointment in the Metropolitan Handicap, and allows us to focus more on how his form was going into the race. He has not often run against the caliber of opposition he faces here, so he may be overlooked at the betting window.
#7- Charlemagnes Command (Serenity Stables, ridden by M J Sanchez)- Picked up at the end of last year for $200.000, and has had a productive season with one win in seven starts. Considering nomination fees, though, the trainer is going to need to see a little more to start calling it a profitable purchase. Winning the Grade 3 PIM Special in May was the highlight of the year, but he needs to put the dud of the Pacific Classic behind him.
#8- Unfold (Fractious, ridden by A Cedillo)- Last year, he would end up winning the BC Dirt Mile, and it came less then two weeks after he was picked up in private sales from Mb Stables for $300.000. After that, he really didn’t need to do anything else. Though Fractious would have liked to have seen a win from him this year, and he has not gotten it. Started well by running third in the Pegasus World Cup, but the highlight of 2020 for him is running second in the Crosby two starts ago.
#9- L A Raw (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by L Contreras)- The veteran six year old will be making the 34th start of his career, and hoping it results in his seventh win. Since winning the 2019 Suburban Handicap that July, he has not been to the winners circle after a stake, with only a FG open allowance win to speak of since then. His last three SRF’s are promising though, all being in the triple digits, a figure that he had only reached once in his prior 30 starts. Take that however you like. Note that he’ll be running on three weeks rest here, less then anyone else.
#10- Tactical (Mb Stables, ridden by N Juarez)- This Cherokee Sunset colt has had an outstanding year, winning four out of his six starts. Along the way, there were wins in the Pegasus World Cup, the GP Mile, then Gold Cup, and the Whitney. Never while he has been saddled by Mb Stables has Tactical had two finishes out of the money in a row, and only once has he gone more then two races in a row without a win (we’ll forgive him for only running second in the BC Classic last year). Therefore, the Pacific Classic can be put aside as something that happened, and he will move on. It was an odd race for him, too, being on the lead early. I don’t think he will be there again.
#11- Air Show (Mb Stables, ridden by J K Court)- The gelding certainly longevity over everyone else, as this will be the 51st start of his career. During that time, he has thirteen wins, and impressively four of those have come during this, his seven year old season. He is a little shy of $1,500.000 in earnings during his time and his season was highlighted by winning the OP Handicap in April. We will focus on that and not the fact that this is tough field for him. Though, never rule out anything from this barn.
#12- Royal Assembly (Nakamura Stables, ridden by M Mena)- There is certainly no weak leak starting on the outside as our reigning KYD champion gets this post. He is the only three year old in this field, and that will allow him to carry three pounds fewer then everyone else, and when you start out here, you need that. After running second in the BEL, Royal Assembly has not been a factor, with the Haskell being a particular disappointment. He would not bounce back in the Pacific Classic, so he’s going to have to do that here or else he’ll be tough to like in the BC Classic, should he go there.
Prediction: 10-5-2-7
— NS
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
