Awesome Gem
Encyclopedia
Awesome Gem is a Thoroughbred
racehorse
. This son of Awesome Again was sold by Crupi's New Castle Farm to West Point Thoroughbreds for $150,000 in California at the 2005 Barretts March 2-year-old sale. His partnership includes Paul Blavin, Scott Cadwallader and Patrice Arundel of Vista, CA, and Rob Keen of Encinitas, California. The chestnut gelding has recently risen to became a major stakes contender on the main track in the Southern California racing circuit. Awesome Gem tends to stand out as a smaller and slimmer horse then many of his competitors.
As a three-year-old, he finished second twice before winning a Maiden Special Weight at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meet on September 29, 2006. He went on to capture an allowance on October 26, 2006, and then ended the year with a second place on the turf in the Grade III 1-mile Sir Beaufort Stakes
on December 26, 2006, on the opening day of Santa Anita's 2006–07 winter meet.
Awesome Gem won his first stakes race at the start of the 2007 season, on January 13, in the 1-1/16-mile Grade II San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes
on the dirt after bounding down the stretch to snatch the lead from favorite Midnight Lute
just before the wire. The chestnut then placed 5th in the 1-1/8-mile Grade II Strub Stakes
on the dirt track at Santa Anita on February 3, 2007, and finished last in the eight-horse field for the 1-1/4-mile Grade I Santa Anita Handicap
on March 3, 2007.
After a brief rest, Awesome Gem was dropped in class and placed 2nd in an allowance race on Hollywood Park's new synthetic Cushion Track on May 26, 2007. He then returned to the winner's circle on June 23, 2007, in an Allowance Optional Claiming, also at Hollywood Park.
On July 21, 2007, Awesome Gem returned to the stakes scene to place second behind Sun Boat in the 1-1/16-mile Grade II San Diego Handicap
on Del Mar's new Polytrack
. On August 19, 2007, he finished second in the 1-1/4-mile Pacific Classic Stakes
at Del Mar. In the race, Awesome Gem made a furious closing effort down the stretch from almost last to narrowly miss overtaking the leader, Student Council
, at the wire.
On September 29, Awesome Gem unsuccessfully dueled Tiago
down the stretch in the 1-1/8-mile Grade I Goodwood Handicap
on Santa Anita's new Cushion Track during the 2007 Oak Tree meet, losing by a nose and again placing second.
Awesome Gem ran as a long shot in the prestigious Grade I 1-1/4-mile Breeders' Cup Classic
at Monmouth Park on October 27, 2007. On the sloppy track, he rallied and overtook 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense
to earn third place. The $500,000 third-place prize effectively doubled the gelding's career earnings and made him West Point Thoroughbred's first horse to reach $1 million in earnings.
The chestnut took off the rest of the 2007 season and was sent to an undisclosed farm for rest. While he was on break, trainer Craig Dollase announced that he plans to point Awesome Gem toward the 2008 Dubai World Cup scheduled for March 29.
Awesome Gem made his first start of the 2008 season in the Grade 2 San Antonio Handicap
at Santa Anita, placing third and besting his Pacific Classic rival, Student Council
, who managed fifth. On March 1, 2008, Awesome Gem placed seventh in the G1 Santa Anita Handicap
, lacking his usual powerful drive down the stretch.
On October 3, 2009, Awesome Gem won the Grade 2 Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap
at the age of 6.
In July 2010, he won his first Grade I victory in the Hollywood Gold Cup
against favorite Rail Trip.
In May 2011, he took the Lone Star Park Handicap
in his first win in this year. He got past Game On Dude
for a one-length victory under Robby Albarado
. On August 22, he also won the Longacres Mile Handicap
, beating Washington's favorite, Noosa Beach.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. This son of Awesome Again was sold by Crupi's New Castle Farm to West Point Thoroughbreds for $150,000 in California at the 2005 Barretts March 2-year-old sale. His partnership includes Paul Blavin, Scott Cadwallader and Patrice Arundel of Vista, CA, and Rob Keen of Encinitas, California. The chestnut gelding has recently risen to became a major stakes contender on the main track in the Southern California racing circuit. Awesome Gem tends to stand out as a smaller and slimmer horse then many of his competitors.
As a three-year-old, he finished second twice before winning a Maiden Special Weight at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meet on September 29, 2006. He went on to capture an allowance on October 26, 2006, and then ended the year with a second place on the turf in the Grade III 1-mile Sir Beaufort Stakes
Sir Beaufort Stakes
The Sir Beaufort Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race run annually near the end of each December at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. A Grade II stakes race for three-year-old horses, it was first run ijn 2000...
on December 26, 2006, on the opening day of Santa Anita's 2006–07 winter meet.
Awesome Gem won his first stakes race at the start of the 2007 season, on January 13, in the 1-1/16-mile Grade II San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes
San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes
The San Fernando Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid January at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Open to four-year-old horses, it is contested on at a distance of 11/16 miles on Pro-Ride synthetic dirt...
on the dirt after bounding down the stretch to snatch the lead from favorite Midnight Lute
Midnight Lute
Midnight Lute is an American Thoroughbred stallion racehorse. He is owned by Michael E. Pegram and Watson and Weitman Performance, LLC, and was named for Lute Olson, the University of Arizona basketball coach....
just before the wire. The chestnut then placed 5th in the 1-1/8-mile Grade II Strub Stakes
Strub Stakes
The Strub Stakes is an American race for thoroughbred horses run at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California each year.Currently a Grade II stakes race with a purse of $300,000, it is open to horses, age four, willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the synthetic surface of Santa Anita and offers...
on the dirt track at Santa Anita on February 3, 2007, and finished last in the eight-horse field for the 1-1/4-mile Grade I Santa Anita Handicap
Santa Anita Handicap
The Santa Anita Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is a Grade I race for horses four years old and up , and is considered the most important race for older horses in North America during the winter racing season...
on March 3, 2007.
After a brief rest, Awesome Gem was dropped in class and placed 2nd in an allowance race on Hollywood Park's new synthetic Cushion Track on May 26, 2007. He then returned to the winner's circle on June 23, 2007, in an Allowance Optional Claiming, also at Hollywood Park.
On July 21, 2007, Awesome Gem returned to the stakes scene to place second behind Sun Boat in the 1-1/16-mile Grade II San Diego Handicap
San Diego Handicap
The San Diego Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late july/early August at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. This Grade II race is open to horses, age three and up, willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on Polytrack synthetic dirt...
on Del Mar's new Polytrack
Polytrack
A synthetic racetrack surface is any kind of surface substance that replaces grass, dirt or sand as the racing surface on a horse racing track. Synthetic surfaces may be desirable over traditional surfaces for several reasons, most prominently the reduction of injuries and possible deaths to horses...
. On August 19, 2007, he finished second in the 1-1/4-mile Pacific Classic Stakes
Pacific Classic Stakes
The Pacific Classic Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for runners aged 3-year-old or up run at the classic American distance of a mile and a quarter...
at Del Mar. In the race, Awesome Gem made a furious closing effort down the stretch from almost last to narrowly miss overtaking the leader, Student Council
Student Council (horse)
Student Council is a millionaire American Thoroughbred racehorse and successful stallion, he is the son of Kingmambo sire of over 80 stakes winners. Bred in Kentucky by William S. Farish III and raced under the Millennium Farms banner for his owner, Ro Parra. He finished racing with a record of...
, at the wire.
On September 29, Awesome Gem unsuccessfully dueled Tiago
Tiago (horse)
Tiago, , is an American Thoroughbred Stallion Racehorse. His sire is the 1992 U.S. Outstanding Older Male Horse, Pleasant Tap. His dam is the stakes winning mare Set Them Free, by Stop The Music, making him a half-brother to the 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo...
down the stretch in the 1-1/8-mile Grade I Goodwood Handicap
Goodwood Handicap
The Goodwood Handicap is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race, run at set weights with penalties, over a distance of 1200 metres at Morphettville Racecourse, Adelaide in April...
on Santa Anita's new Cushion Track during the 2007 Oak Tree meet, losing by a nose and again placing second.
Awesome Gem ran as a long shot in the prestigious Grade I 1-1/4-mile Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships...
at Monmouth Park on October 27, 2007. On the sloppy track, he rallied and overtook 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense
Street Sense (horse)
Street Sense is an American Thoroughbred racehorse, U.S. Champion 2-Yr-Old Colt and winner of the 2007 Kentucky Derby, the 2007 Travers Stakes and runner up in the 2007 Preakness Stakes by a head. Owned and bred by James B...
to earn third place. The $500,000 third-place prize effectively doubled the gelding's career earnings and made him West Point Thoroughbred's first horse to reach $1 million in earnings.
The chestnut took off the rest of the 2007 season and was sent to an undisclosed farm for rest. While he was on break, trainer Craig Dollase announced that he plans to point Awesome Gem toward the 2008 Dubai World Cup scheduled for March 29.
Awesome Gem made his first start of the 2008 season in the Grade 2 San Antonio Handicap
San Antonio Handicap
The San Antonio Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the first week of February at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California...
at Santa Anita, placing third and besting his Pacific Classic rival, Student Council
Student Council (horse)
Student Council is a millionaire American Thoroughbred racehorse and successful stallion, he is the son of Kingmambo sire of over 80 stakes winners. Bred in Kentucky by William S. Farish III and raced under the Millennium Farms banner for his owner, Ro Parra. He finished racing with a record of...
, who managed fifth. On March 1, 2008, Awesome Gem placed seventh in the G1 Santa Anita Handicap
Santa Anita Handicap
The Santa Anita Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is a Grade I race for horses four years old and up , and is considered the most important race for older horses in North America during the winter racing season...
, lacking his usual powerful drive down the stretch.
On October 3, 2009, Awesome Gem won the Grade 2 Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap
Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap
The Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap is a Grade II race for thoroughbred horses run at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney, Illinois each year. The Hawthorne Gold Cup trophy has always been made of solid gold....
at the age of 6.
In July 2010, he won his first Grade I victory in the Hollywood Gold Cup
Hollywood Gold Cup
The Hollywood Gold Cup is an American Grade I stakes race for thoroughbred horses inaugurated in 1938 at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. It was run as a handicap race until 1997 when it was switched to weight-for-age conditions...
against favorite Rail Trip.
In May 2011, he took the Lone Star Park Handicap
Lone Star Park Handicap
The Lone Star Park Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the last week of May at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas. A Grade III event open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of 11/16 miles .The Lone Star Park Handicap was...
in his first win in this year. He got past Game On Dude
Game On Dude
Game On Dude is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who to date has won two Grade I stakes including the 2011 Santa Anita Handicap. Trained by Bob Baffert, he was ridden by Chantal Sutherland for both of his Grade I wins as well as his second-place finish in the 2011 Breeders' Cup...
for a one-length victory under Robby Albarado
Robby Albarado
Robby J. Albarado is an American Thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He began riding at the age of 12 at bush tracks in his native Louisiana and after turning professional, earned his first win at Evangeline Downs in 1990...
. On August 22, he also won the Longacres Mile Handicap
Longacres Mile Handicap
The Longacres Mile Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in August at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington. The race is open to horses three years of age and older and is run on dirt over a distance of one mile...
, beating Washington's favorite, Noosa Beach.