Awesome Maria should have no problem defending her title in the Ogden Phipps
The awesome 5-year-old mare, Awesome Maria has been on a strict schedule to double the victories on the races she has already won it 2011, and after two successful trips this season on doing a double on the Grade 3 Sabin Stakes and the Grade 3 Rampart Stakes,
it is time to become a multiple grade 1 winner, when she vies for the Grade 1, $400,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap at Belmont Park on 28 May, 2012.
The 1 1/16 mile dirt race at the Big Sandy has reeled in 5, 3-year-old and above fillies and mares, who are all exiting a victory in their previous races.
Though, no one in the field can match their credentials with the E. Paul Robsham Stables’ homebred Awesome Maria, who has strung together six race win streak, and all graded stakes races.
The Maria’s Mon mare defeated a strong field in her seasonal debut, when she went out to defend her title in the Grade 3 Sabin Stakes.
Todd Pletcher’s trainee held off the 2011 champion 3-year-old filly, Royal Delta, in second to win the 1 1/16 mile event at Gulfstream Park on 25 February, 2012, with the winning time of 1 minute and 42.82 seconds, as Groupie Doll finished a strong second.
Out of Awesome Again mare Discreetly Awesome, Awesome Maria went on the quest to defend her title again in the Grade 3 Rampart Stakes, where she had to be stretched out in distance to 1 1/8 miles on 31 March, 2012, successfully came out as a victor and defeated
Beloveda in second and Canadian Mistress in third, while wrapping the race up in 1 minute and 48.19 seconds.
The weekly pole of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association showed that Awesome Maria is the only filly or mare to rank in the top 10.
Kiaran McLaughlin trained, It’s Tricky seems to be the only one in the field, who can give Awesome Maria a tough time, especially coming off a victory in the Grade 2 Distaff Handicap.
The Mineshaft filly on top of her game can wreak havoc on the track, and might be the one to end Awesome Maria’s amazing winning streak, but right now looks highly unlikely.
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