Chad Brown will find it hard to replace the now-retired Awesome Feather
The departure of the champion 2-year-old filly of 2010, Awesome Feather, will certainly leave a void in Chad Brown’s barn. The filly who had won 10 of 11 starts will retire to join the broodmare band of Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs.
The 4-year-old filly by Awesome Of Course went on to win her first 10 career starts on the trot, but couldn’t end her career with a perfect 11 of 11, as she lost to Royal Delta and finished sixth in her last career start, the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic at Santa Anita Park on 2 November, 2012.
She was sent as the second choice behind the favourite Royal Delta, who was out there to defend her title.
After Awesome Feather’s victory in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, which also capped off her unbeaten juvenile season, she was purchased by Frank Stronach, and was handed over the trainer Chad Brown, who tended to the physical issues Awesome Feather underwent in the time she was with Chad Brown.
Mainly it was a tendon injury that forced her out of racing, and because of that she went on to miss most of the 2011 season.
Although, Chad Brown did saddle her to a Grade 1 win in the Gazelle Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack over 1 1/8 miles in 2011, and then the Sunshine Millions Distaff over the same distance at Gulfstream Park the next year.
“She’s a really special horse,” Brown said. “For any horse to come back from that type of tendon injury is remarkable, and she did it at such a high level. I’m sorry she couldn’t go out a winner, but I’m very proud of her. I’m proud of my staff. Everyone involved with her really did a lot of hard work around her. But the most important member of the whole team was her. She just had the will to overcome a lot of things. She had such a tremendous amount of talent. One of the all-time greats I’ve worked around.”
Chad Brown didn’t find any excuse for Awesome Feather’s sixth place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, but overall she had nothing left to give in the stretch.
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