No match for Awesome Feather in the $300,000 Florida Sunshine Millions Distaff at the Gulfstream Park on 28th January
More the risk better the outcome. It applies true for the four-year-old filly, Awesome Feather, who won her seasonal debut in the $300,000 Florida Sunshine Millions Distaff at the Gulfstream Park on 28th January.
Her eight for eight, unbeaten record was put at stake, as the lineup for the race was not the sort that was to be taken lightly, and it was the first time that she had stepped down from the graded stakes that she has bagged continuously.
Stretching her winning streak to a nine, she ran through the 1 1/8 mile track in a minute and 49.17 seconds, leading by 5 ¾ lengths. Trained by Chad brown, the 4 to 5 favourite of the race, was ridden by Jeffrey Sanchez.
Sweet Repent racing for the final start of the career, finished third in her seventh race, while Tiz The Argument, who was being dreaded the most as being the fiercest opponent throughout the race, ended fifth on a field of six.
The runner up for the race was Mark Casse trained, Delightful Mary, who was ridden by L Contreras.
The trainer, Chad Brown, did feel a little vulnerable about the new venue, new surface and the new surroundings that his horse had to put up with, however, he was confident about the ability of Awesome Feather, and he was relaxed as at least there
was nothing outrageously disturbing besides it being an altogether new racing experience.
The four-year-old filly spent most of the previous season off the track due to a tendon injury, but she has returned quite strong, striking a debut win straight away.
The Gulfstream owner, Frank Stronach, bought Awesome Feather for $2.3 million in the 2010 sale that followed the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. She won the Le Slew Stakes on 5th October 2011, at Belmont Park, which
was raced over a distance of seven furlongs.
The concluding race for the previous season was the Grade 1 Gazelle Handicap on 26th November 2011, at Aqueduct over a distance of 1 1/8 mile.
Awesome Feather has made such debut starts two times before as well through the two years that she has raced, if the winning pattern for the remaining year would stay the same or not would depend upon her sustainability.
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