Awesome Gem became a graded stakes winner in his second attempt at stakes company when he defeated Midnight Lute by a nose in the San Fernando Breeders’ Cup Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Jan. 13. In his last start, the 4-year-old son of Awesome Again finished second in the Sir Beaufort Stakes (gr. IIIT) Dec. 26.

Craig Dollase trains the gelding for West Point Thoroughbreds, Jeff Blum, Patrice Arudel, Paul Blavin, et al. Awesome Gem did not race until July of his 3-year-old season, but has been impressive, winning or finishing second in six of his seven starts.

West Point Thoroughbreds purchased Awesome Gem through Buzz Chace, agent, for $150,000 at the 2005 Barretts March 2-year-olds in training sale. The gelding had been consigned by Crupi’s New Castle Farm, which purchased him for $150,000 at the 2004 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga August yearling sale from Bluewater Sales, agent.

Runnymede Farm, Catesby Clay, and Peter Callahan bred Awesome Gem in Kentucky out of the unraced Pentelicus mare Piano, who had been purchased as a yearling by Runnymede Farm for $190,000. Out of the winning Fight Over mare Thwack, Piano is a half-sister to J J’sdream, a grade II-winning daughter of Glitterman who won six graded stakes in her career.

Out of the Distinctive mare Royal Ties, Thwack is a half-sister to On to Royalty. The On to Glory mare won the Bonnie Miss Stakes (gr. II) and produced grade I winners Louis Quatorze and Royal Indy. On to Royalty’s full brother, Meritocrat, won the Boojum Handicap (gr. II). Another half-sibling, Penniless Heiress (by Pentelicus), is the dam of grade I winner Wildcat Heir, grade III winner Forest Heiress, and stakes winner Forest Heir, all full siblings by Forest Wildcat.

Awesome Gem is the first stakes winner for his dam, who is no longer owned by Runnymede Farm. The mare was sold for $3,000 to Hidden Lake Farm at the 2005 Keeneland January mixed sale. She was sold again that year at the Keeneland November mixed sale for $40,000 to Michael Byrne’s Park Stud in Ontario, Canada. Consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, Piano was in foal to Forest Wildcat. Byrne sold the resulting colt at the 2006 Keeneland November mixed sale for $80,000 to Foxtale Farm. Piano is currently in foal to Park Stud stallion Tomahawk.

Awesome Again is the sire of 18 stakes winners including additional 2007 added-money winner Sugar Shake, who won the El Encino Stakes (gr. II) Jan. 14. The 13-year-old son of Deputy Minister stands at Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs near Versailles, Ky., for a fee of $125,000.—A.H.D.