Awesome Maria wins Ogden Phipps Stakes for Todd Pletcher, Unrivalled Belle retires
Ogden Phipps Stakes is a Grade 1 Handicap race for fillies and mares three years and above, named after one of America’s most renowned racehorse owner’s, Ogden Phipps.
This year’s race took place on Thursday 16th June 2011, open to mares and fillies over three years of age.
The day started with bad news as 2/1 second favourite, Unrivaled Belle, flipped over before the race begun and incurred a career ending injury. She was not only removed from the race but also subsequently retired.
While this ended Unrivalled Belle’s career, it was not such bad news for Awesome Maria because with her rival gone it was easier for her to win. According to trainer, Bill Mott, Unrivalled Belle had broken her withers. While some horses do recover from wither
injury and go on to win stakes, Unrivalled Belle will now live as a broodmare.
3/5 favourite Awesome Maria, trained by Todd Pletcher won the race under John Velazquez by three lengths in 4 minutes 41.40 seconds. Absinthe Minded was the initial pace-setter but soon Awesome Maria quickened pace.
She overcame Life at Ten at the half mile turn, even though both had entered the stretch at once. Awesome Marie then managed to resist challenges from Payton d'Oro to win her first Grade 1 race. Payton d'Oro under jockey, Gabriel Saez, finished in second
place while Absinthe Minded ridden by Eddie Castro finished last.
Trainer, Todd Pletcher, said about winner Awesome Maria:
“I think she was impressive again. She's been pretty impressive every start this year…She didn't break well, but she was able to recover and find a spot there pretty quickly. It was very important for her to get that Grade 1 win. She did it while conceding
a lot of weight to some very good fillies, so that was a big effort for her".
He further said that although she did not start off strongly she quickly gained pace and recovered. He had two more pupils in the race, Super Espresso, ridden by David Cohen, who finished third, and, Life At Ten ridden by Cornelio Velasquez, who finished
fourth.
Awesome Maria runs for E. Paul Robsham Stables and is the 2007 daughter of Maria´s Mon and Discreetly Awesome. She had previously won the mile long Shuvee against Absinthe Minded.
She has also won twice at the Gulfstream Park, once at the Sabin and then at the Rampart. From a total of 12 career starts Awesome Maria has a remarkable record of seven wins, three seconds and one third place. She has so far earned a total of $842,375 including
the $250,000 from the Ogden Phipps Stakes.
The irony of the race is that four-year-old Awesome Maria’s career just started picking up whereas Unrivalled Belle’s career ended, both on the same day.
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