Awesome Maria fractured left foreleg - sidelined for the rest of the season
The daughter of Maria’s Mon, Awesome Maria who is undefeated in four starts ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a non-displaced fracture of her left foreleg.
Awesome Maria trained by Todd Pletcher for Paul Robsham Stables, the 4-year-old filly was pointed to run the Grade 1 $250,000 Ruffian Handicap at Saratoga on 31 July.
It is very disappointing to see Awesome Maria get sidelined like this; said trainer Todd Pletcher, the filly was on a dream roll with a perfect season thus far with 4 of 4.
The Injury was noticed while Awesome Maria was putting together a five furlong workout at Saratoga, and that she has already went through a successful surgery in Kentucky on 20 July.
Awesome Maria provided Paul Robsham Stables with ample amount of success, winning stakes races in each year of her career. Recently, the 4-year-old champion filly registered her first Grade 1 victory in the Odgen Phipps Handicap at Belmont Park on 18 June.
Out of 12 starts, Awesome Maria stands tall with 7 wins, 3 runner-ups and a single third place finish. Four out of those seven wins came alone in the 2011 season, with the life time earnings of $842,375.
Awesome Maria was on a graded stakes race winning streak landing the Sabin and Rampant Stakes, both Graded 3 stakes and both run on the Gulfstream Park on a dirt track under jockey John Velazquez.
Her third consecutive hunt for a graded stakes win entered her in the Grade 2 Shuvee Handicap at Belmont Park on 21 May 2011. Under jockey J Castellano, at a distance of exactly a mile.
Awesome Maria won the meet and covered the distance in 1 minute and 35.19 seconds, conquering her foes with absolute ease defeating Absinthe Minded and Spa City Princess, who finished second and third on the day.
Then came the elusive Grade 1 title, Awesome Maria had tried her luck twice before in the Grade 1 races, but twice ended up finishing second. It was time to get the monkey off her back as she entered a small but mighty field of fillies for the Grade 1 Odgen
Phipps at Belmont Park going the one turn 1 1/16 route.
The last scratch of favoured Unrivaled Belle, Awesome Maria was the favoured to go win the race. She didn’t break well but made up for it in a late surge under jockey John Velazquez, who drove the filly on the outside to claim her first Grade 1 victory.
Payton D’oro and Super Espresso finished second and third. Awesome Maria cover the 1 1/16 mile distance in 1 minute and 41.40 seconds.
Awesome Maria still looks in good shape as she got screws inserted to speed up the healing process after the surgery, she will be back next year to build on her perfect record this season.
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