Benoit Photo
Awesome Gem
Emerald Downs
Awesome Gem wins the 2011 Longacres Mile.
Emerald Downs
Awesome Gem wins the 2011 Longacres Mile.
Reed Palmer Photography
Awesome Gem wins the Lone Star Handicap.
Reed Palmer Photography
Awesome Gem, inside, and Flat Out duel in the Lone Star Handicap.
BenoitPhoto.com
Awesome Gem wins the 2010 Hollywood Gold Cup.
BenoitPhoto.com
Awesome Gem wins the 2010 Hollywood Gold Cup.
BenoitPhoto.com
Awesome Gem wins the 2010 Hollywood Gold Cup.
BenoitPhoto.com
Awesome Gem wins the 2010 Hollywood Gold Cup.
BenoitPhoto.com
Awesome Gem wins the 2010 Hollywood Gold Cup.
BenoitPhoto.com
Awesome Gem wins the 2010 Hollywood Gold Cup.
BenoitPhoto.com
Awesome Gem wins the 2010 Hollywood Gold Cup.
BenoitPhoto.com
Awesome Gem wins the 2010 Hollywood Gold Cup.
Four Footed Fotos
Awesome Gem wins the 2009 Hawthorne Gold Cup.
Four Footed Fotos
Awesome Gem wins the 2009 Hawthorne Gold Cup.
Benoit
With Awesome Gem arriving at his new home at Old Friends April 7 I thought it would be an appropriate time to reprint a column I wrote in 2010 on this old warrior and the person whose life he changed.
West Point Thoroughbreds' multiple graded stakes winner Awesome Gem arrived at his new home April 7 at Old Friends Equine in Georgetown, Ky.
by Anne Peters
Awesome Again is one of the most consistent sires of high-class runners in North America.
Grade I winner and multi-millionaire Awesome Gem has been retired from racing. The 9-year-old son of Awesome Again was scheduled to run in the Sept. 23 Ralph M. Hinds Pomona Handicap at Fairplex.
Red-hot Taylor Said, back in action just 13 days after setting a track record at Hastings Racecourse, held off Winning Machine in the final strides Aug. 19 to capture the $200,000 Longacres Miles (gr. III) by a head.
He's the gift that keeps on giving and the equine version of the Energizer Bunny. Making the 52nd start of his career Aug. 19, Awesome Gem steps forward to defend his title at Emerald Downs.
Fort Larned, left alone on an easy pace, turned back heavy favorite Successful Dan in the lane to post an easy three-length triumph in the $300,000 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (gr. III) in Iowa June 30.
Highly regarded Successful Dan, winner of the Alysheba Stakes (gr. II) this spring, is 6-5 on the morning line for the $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap (gr. III) at Prairie Meadows on the night of June 30.
Favored Awesome Gem, making his 50th career start, was awarded victory in the $100,000 Berkeley Handicap (gr. III) when original winner Positive Response was disqualified at Golden Gate Fields May 28.
Awesome Gem, lifetime winner of more than $2.7 million, and San Francisco Mile (gr. IIIT) victor Hudson Landing head the field for the $100,000 Berkeley Handicap (gr. III) at Golden Gate Fields May 28.
Morning Line wanted no part of the starting gate at Betfair Hollywood Park, but once he finally acquiesced there was no catching the grade I winner in the $150,000 Mervyn Leroy Handicap (gr. II) May 5.
Grade I winner Morning Line debuts for new trainer John Shirreffs in the $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap (gr. II) May 5 at Betfair Hollywood Park.
Nine-year-old Awesome Gem got his 2012 campaign underway with a handy allowance victory at Golden Gate Fields April 12.
Nine-year-old Awesome Gem, in the money in 19 graded stakes, is back on the work tab in California and will be pointed toward a seventh year of racing.
Eight-year-old Awesome Gem, who has competed in the past four Breeders' Cups, will bypass the World Championships this year, according to West Point Thoroughbreds' website.
In his return to Santa Anita, Game On Dude won for the first time since taking the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) in March, holding sway over late-running Awesome Gem in the $250,000 Goodwood Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 1.
Trainer Bob Baffert hopes to move a step closer to winning his first Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) when he sends out grade I winners Coil and Game On Dude in the $250,000 Goodwood Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 1 at Santa Anita.
Awesome Gem, Royal Delta, Summer Soiree, and more. View Slideshow
Awesome Gem, the richest horse to ever race in Washington, was too much for local star Noosa Beach in the $200,000 Longacres Mile Handicap (gr. III) at Emerald Downs.
Defending champion Noosa Beach and leading challenger Awesome Gem drew the far outside posts in a field of 12 entered for Washington's $200,000 Longacres Mile (gr. III). The signature race at Emerald Downs is Aug. 21.
Two dudes from trainer Bob Baffert's barn proved better than heavy favorite Twirling Candy in the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) when First Dude came from off the pace to defeat Game On Dude by a nose July 9.
Who will win the 2011 Hollywood Gold Cup? Will Awesome Gem repeat? Or will it be a Dude? Or will a Candy horse prevail? How will the rest finish? Predict the Order
Jason, Evan and Les from TwinSpires.com handicap the Hollywood Gold Cup at Hollywood Park and Man o' War at Belmont Park. Watch Video
Twirling Candy, considered the best of a so-so group of older handicap horses nationally in 2011, will have an opportunity to dazzle his critics as the favorite in the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) July 9.
Twirling Candy, a stylish winner of the $150,000 Californian (gr. II) June 4, was assigned top weight of 122 pounds for the upcoming $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I).
Californian (gr. II) winner Twirling Candy, Santa Anita Handicap upsetter Game On Dude (gr. I), talented filly Blind Luck (gr. I), and defending titleholder Awesome Gem are among 14 nominees for the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I)
Headache left favored Awesome Gem behind at the eighth pole and rolled to his first graded stakes win in the $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap (gr. III) at Prairie Meadows on the night of June 25.
With six stakes worth more than $1 million, Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino will hold its biggest racing weekend of the year June 24-25, highlighted by the $300,000 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (gr. III).
Eight-year-old Awesome Gem registered his first win since last year's Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) when he edged past odds-on choice Game On Dude in the lane and posted a one-length victory in the Lone Star Park Handicap.
Game On Dude, trained by Bob Baffert, and Thiskyhasnolimit, from the Steve Asmussen barn, headline the $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap (gr. III), the featured event on the Texas track's Memorial Day program May 30.
First Dude beat a deep Alysheba Stakes field, claiming his second straight win of the year.
Giant Oak, winner of the Donn Handicap (gr. I) earlier this year, tops a field of 11 entered in the May 6 Alysheba Stakes (gr. III) that is part of the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) undercard at Churchill Downs.
Grade II winner Meteore was euthanized after fracturing his right ankle in an allowance race at Golden Gate Fields April 2.
West Point Thoroughbred's Awesome Gem was made the 7-2 morning line favorite for the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Marathon.
Accompanied by a police escort, a van carrying Zenyatta rolled into the stable area of Churchill Downs and stopped at Barn 41 at 12:07 p.m. ET Tuesday, Nov. 2.
The main focus this year, of course, will be on "Mighty Mare"--Zenyatta--who hopes to conclude her amazing career in the Classic with her 20th victory in as many starts, and the French femme fatale, Goldikova.
West Point Thoroughbred didn't waste any time in pulling a switch with Awesome Gem and Tropic Storm, both of whom will run in their second preference races.
Unbeaten Twirling Candy attempts to become the third 3-year-old in the past four years to win the $250,000 Goodwood Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 2, which would earn the colt a berth in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).
Zenyatta, who has won all 18 of her starts for owners Jerry and Ann Moss and trainer John Shirreffs, is among 14 fillies and mares nominated to the $250,000 Lady's Secret Stakes Presented by TVG (gr. I).
Catesby Clay's Runnymede Farm near Paris, Ky., has enjoyed a string of successes that could not have been more perfectly timed.
Jason, Tom, and Les Instone of TwinSpires.com preview the Travers (gr.I) and Pacific Classic (gr.I). Watch Video
Awesome Gem, the pride of the ownership syndicate West Point Thoroughbreds and trainer Craig Dollase, takes his record fourth shot at the $1 million Pacific Classic Presented by TVG (gr. I) as one of the favorites Aug. 28.
The morning line favorite is The Usual Q.T., ridden by Victor Espinoza.
Richard's Kid worked a quick half-mile in :46 4/5 at Del Mar on Aug. 23 as he continued to prep for a defense of his title in the Aug. 28 $1 million Pacific Classic Presented by TVG.
Trainer John Sadler said the morning of Aug. 15 it's not likely that Sidney's Candy, winner of the Aug. 14 La Jolla Handicap (gr. IIT) will run at Del Mar again this meet.
Veteran gelding Awesome Gem reached the pinnacle of his career when he rallied along the inside to upset odds-on favorite Rail Trip by a half-length in the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) July 10.
Although Awesome Gem has won only six of 35 starts in his career and was winless in 2008 and is winless this year, he has compiled a record that should make him one of the most endearing horses in the country. Read Blog
Jason, Tom, and Les Instone of twinspires.com preview the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) at Hollywood Park on July 10. Plus, picks for the Princess Rooney (gr. I). Watch Video
Defending Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) winner Rail Trip will carry top weight of 123 pounds when he attempts to become just the third multiple winner of the prestigious race in its 71-year history July 10 at Hollywood Park.
Redding Colliery disposed of pacesetter Euroears leaving the final turn and left his seven rivals far behind in capturing the $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap (gr. III) for his first graded stakes victory May 31.
| Trainer | UNKNOWN |
|---|---|
| Jockey | UNKNOWN |
| Owner | West Point Thoroughbreds |
| Breeder | Runnymede Farm Inc., Catesby Clay & Peter Callahan |
| Awesome Gem View Five-Cross Pedigree | Awesome Again | Deputy Minister |
| Primal Force | ||
| Piano | Pentelicus | |
| Thwack |
| Sale / Hip | Type | Buyer | Consignor | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTSAUG2004 Hip 5 |
Yearling | Crupi's New Castle Farm | Bluewater Sales, agent | $150,000 |
| BARMAR2005 Hip 66 |
Two-year-old | Buzz Chace, agent for West Point Thoroughbreds | Crupi's New Castle Farm | $150,000 |
| Spooky Woods |
| Classic Empire |
| Arrogate |
| Tapwrit |
| Always Dreaming |
| Unspoiled Moments |
| Flipcup |
| Gun Runner |
| Songbird |
| Lady Aurelia |
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