Awesome Feather retires after Ladies’ Classic loss
The multiple grade 1 winner, and with a record of 10 victories on the trot out of 11 career starts, 4-year-old filly Awesome Feather, will be retired to join the broodmare band of Frank Stronach's Adena Springs near Paris, Ky. as the breeding plans are to yet be decided.
The fan favourite, Awesome Feather, was champion Eclipse Award winner 2-year-old filly for 2010, after winning the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs.
The Florida bred filly by Awesome Of Course, Awesome Feather, started her career with a 5 ¾ length victory over maidens in her debut start at Calder Race Course going over a distance of 4 ½ furlongs for trainer Stanley Gold and breeder Jacks or Better Farm.
She remained at Calder, and won the J J’sdream Stakes over 5 ½ furlongs, which followed by a sweep of three Florida Stallion Series at Calder Race Course for 2-year-old fillies.
Each race varied in distance, as Desert Vixen was run over a distance of 6 furlongs, Susan’s Girl was seven furlongs, and the My Dear Girl was at about 1 1/16 miles, as Awesome Feather won over two-turns for the first time.
She remained unbeaten throughout her juvenile career, and capped off the 2010 season with victory in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, that secured the 2-year-old champion filly Eclipse Award.
Awesome Feather’s Breeders’ Cup feat attracted attention, and after a couple of days she was purchased by Frank Stronach's Adena Springs for $2.3 million at the Fasig-Tipton November breeding stock sale.
Out of Gone West mare Precious Feather, Awesome Feather was out of racing for almost a year, but after recovering for her tendon injury to win an overnight stakes race at Belmont Park, and then went on to win the Grade 1 Gazelle Handicap at Aqueduct.
In 2012, she won the Sunshine Millions Distaff, and then the Nasty Storm Stakes at Belmont Park, but experienced her first and only loss in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic.
"Working for Bobby (Frankel) I was around several of the Stronach's best runners and Awesome Feather was right up there with the best of them," trainer Chad Brown said in a release. "She is a rare horse to overcome a tendon injury like she did and maintain top form. She is truly special."
Tags: