Hollywood Gold Cup - Awesome Gem back at Hollywood park to defend his title and gain a Breeders’ Cup spot
Awesome Gem is set to repeat history as he gears himself to defend his title for the $500,000 Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at Hollywood Park on 9 July.
If we take a trip down memory lane, Awesome Gem landed the Hollywood Gold Cup last year on 11 July, 2010.
On that day, the field attracted some older champion horses and the favourite among them was the then five-year-old gelding Rail Trip, expected to cruise past his rivals to win himself a second Grade 1 stakes' race, but Awesome Gem outran Rail Trip.
Awesome Gem ran a powerful race on that day among 6 horses.
Raced in at last place under jockey, David Flores, who urged the bay gelding to move it up a notch, the eight-year-old gelding responded and finished at fifth position in the race.
It was important for jockey, David Flores, to hold off the pace in the beginning, especially on a distance of I mile and 2 furlongs.
Awesome Gem stayed fifth till the 3rd furlong, but it was time to hold position and go for the wire so after the bend, Awesome Gem gave it all on the stretch and past his rivals to reach the leader Rail Trip.
The Craig Dollase trained gelding ran a good race while under pressure and led 110 yards out to cross the wire and defeat the favourite, Rail Trip.
Awesome Gem is coming off a good run from the 26 June, Grade 3 Cornhusker Stakes at the Prairie Meadows, finishing 2 ½ lengths behind the leader, Headache.
Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Awesome Gem had a winning start prior to the Grade 3 Cornhusker Stakes.
The Grade 3 Lone Star Park Handicap drew a field of five horses, including the leader of California’s older horse division, Game on Dude, at Lone Park on 20 May, 2011.
Awesome Gem took on fierce competition and won the race by a length, leaving Flat Out behind, who was a 8 to 3 favourite to win the race while Game on Dude finished fifth.
Twirling Candy and Bob Baffert’s two dudes, Game on Dude and First Dude, will be posing the main hindrance to Awesome Gem from landing back to back Hollywood Gold Cup.
Eight horses are drawn to contest for the race and the eight-year-old veteran title defender is among the eight.
According to trainer, Craig Dollase, Awesome Gem deserves a chance to defend his title in the race on 9 July, especially coming off a couple of good races in the 2011 season with a win and a second place finish.
Defending his title would be one thing, but gaining the Breeders’ Cup berth would be another for Awesome Gem and his connections.
The Gold Cup is part of the Breeders’ Cup challenge series.
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