Awesome Maria, who hasn’t competed since winning the Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) last June, breezed five furlongs in 1:01 4/5 Jan. 16 at Palm Meadows in Florida for trainer Todd Pletcher. The 4-year-old daughter of Maria's Monwas sidelined when she suffered a condylar fracture to her left foreleg during a workout at Saratoga while preparing for a planned start in the Ruffian Invitational Handicap (gr. I) July 31.
An E. Paul Robsham Stables hombred, Awesome Maria has won seven of her12 career races and has earned $842,375. She triumphed in all four of her races in 2011. In addition to the Ogden Phipps, she captured the Rampart (gr. III) and Sabin (gr. III) stakes at Gulfstream Park and the Shuvee Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park.
According to a Gulfstream press release, the first added-money opportunity for Awesome Maria on the Florida track’s schedule “would appear to be” this year’s edition of the Sabin, which is scheduled for Feb. 25.