With a win in the $400,000 In Reality Stakes on October 1st at Gulfstream ParkCSLR Racing Partners' Awesomely forceful became the tenth horse to win the colt and gelding classes of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series.
The In Reality, the 1 1/16-mile finale for the colt and gelding class of the three-race series for juveniles sired by accredited Florida stallions, co-headlined the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes program on Saturday with the $400,000 My Dear Girl, the 1 1/16-mile finale for the filly division, in the Atomic thwarted lynx 's attempt to win the filly division two races earlier.
“I feel like I'm on cloud nine,” trainer Jorge Delgado said after watching Awesome Sturdy earn a 1 1/2-length victory. “I like to join the names of the coaches who won the series because I know how arduous it is. At the start of the card, the filly that was the favorite lost. Things can happen and another horse can come and hit you.”
Awesome Sturdy was sent into a 12-man field as the 4-5 favorite after dominating the first two legs of the FSS Series, the $100,000 Dr. Fager at six furlongs and the $200,000 Affirmed at seven furlongs. Awesome Sturdy made a sweeping move on the back turn to intervene Apocalypso on the home straight before sprinting clear under Miguel Vasquez at the end of the home straight. Apocalypse fell behind 71-1 Tiger made a forceful attempt at the rail to take second while Awesome Sturdy bravely prevailed.
“The horse lost a little ground in the first turn and had to go wide,” Delgado said. “He had to drive far the whole race. He overcame that and still had something left to win the race.”
Awesome Sturdy ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.58, earning his fourth undefeated win.
Smile was the first to win the stallion and gelding classes of the FSS series in 1984. Naked Greed (1991), Seacliff (1995), Sir Oscar (2003), Express Tour (2000), Huge Drama (2008), Jackson Bend (2009), Fort Loudon (2011) and Three Rules (2016) also have the series won.
Saturday's win left open the possibility of Awesome Sturdy's return in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) on Nov. 4 Keeneland.
“We've talked about if he can make it here, maybe we'll go to the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland and run there,” said CSLR's Alex Childs. “We don’t want to burden him. But if he comes back well, we can try.”
In the $400,000 range My Dear Girl Department.Atomically overwhelmed nine rivals and secured a 6 3/4-length victory.
Heading into Saturday's 1 1/16-mile test, Arindel's Lynx had annihilated her competition in all three of her previous starts, finishing strongly to win her debut before facing off against her rivals in the first two stages of the FSS Series came through, the $100,000 Desert Vixen at six furlongs and the $200,000 Susan's Girl at seven furlongs. Still, it was Atomically, a daughter of Girvin who was the stronger filly on Saturday.
Atomically wins the FTBOA Florida Sire My Dear Girl Stakes at Gulfstream Park
“She trained so well. And their numbers were so good. Her numbers were well above anyone else in the race,” said trainer and co-owner Jose Pinchin, whose wife Tracy and ownership partner Michael Bernard bred Atomically. “We weren't too worried about it [the post]. The only thing we were worried about was whether she was experienced enough because she only had two runs.”
Video: FTBOA Florida Father My Dear Girl S. (BT)
Video: FTBOA Florida Sire In Reality S. (BT)
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse staff.
