Awesome Banner back in Winner's Circle for FSS Prized
Heavily favored Awesome Banner ($3.40) overcame a wide trip to prevail in the $150,000 Prized division of the Florida Sire Stakes Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
The Jacks or Better Farm homebred came into the contest off a pair of short-priced defeats, including a second last out to Dream of Me in the Unbridled division of the Florida Sire Stakes four weeks ago at Gulfstream.
Drawn on the outside in post eight, the 3-year-old colt raced four wide in fourth as Mr. Kisses and Dangerous Bend scrimmaged with Dream of Me through a scorching half-mile split of :44.82. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione gave Awesome Banner his cue entering the stretch and the crowd’s choice made his way to the fore. Mr. Kisses continued to battle in the final strides, but Awesome Banner would not be denied and won by a neck. He was timed in 1:22.88 for the seven-furlong Prized.
“He made me work a little bit, but he was much more comfortable today with the outside post,” Gaffalione offered. “I didn’t have to use him as much. I could just sit back and let them duel early. When I asked him for run on the turn, he gave it to me. He was so game. He kept digging in.”
Those sentiments were echoed by Jamie Begg, assistant to winning trainer Mark Casse.
“He’s a speed horse and he’d been grinding it out,” Begg said. “He was always the horse that everyone was trying to beat. It’s easier to try to make someone lose than to win. But with the outside post we were able to take him back and let them burn themselves out. We were going to let the horse tell us what he wanted to do. If he came out and wanted to go up there, then we were going to let him. If he didn’t, we wanted to save him and let those guys go. The pace got a little quick. Tyler gave him a good ride.”
Awesome Banner, a son of Awesome of Course and the Zamindar mare Miranda Stands, could make his next start in the Foolish Pleasure division of the $150,000 Florida Sire Stakes going a mile at Gulfstream on October 1.
“We’ll see how he comes out of it, but there’s one more race left in the series so we might go in that,” Begg offered.
Awesome Banner began his career under the tutelage of trainer Stanley Gold, for whom he posted dominating victories in the Hutcheson Stakes (G3) and Swale Stakes (G2) during Gulfstream’s Championship Meet. He faltered in two subsequent route tests, but rebounded to score in the Big Cypress Stakes at Gulfstream on June 4. He was second in the Carry Back Stakes (G3) on the Summit of Speed program on July 2 prior to his runner-up finish in the Unbridled.
With five wins in nine career starts, Awesome Banner now has earnings of $422,335.
Pink Poppy Blooms in Wasted Tears
Arindel’s homebred Pink Poppy ($9.40) parlayed a perfect trip to win the $75,000 Wasted Tears Stakes today at Gulfstream. Confidently handled by Edgard Zayas, the 5-year-old daughter of Tiznow settled in second as 4-5 Daring Kathy raced in third along the rail.
She got the jump on the favorite on the far turn, struck the front and maintained that position over a host of challengers. In the end, Pink Poppy scored by three-quarters of a length from Kiss to Remember, with Dad’s Princess a nose further back in third. She stopped the clock in 1:42.21 for the 8 1/2-furlong Wasted Tears. Favored Daring Kathy finished fifth.
Pink Poppy notched her first stakes victory in the 2015 $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Stakes and finished third when attempting to defend her title in the 2016 renewal. Third in the $75,000 Amelia Island Stakes at Gulfstream on June 4, she posted a front-running success in the $75,000 Spook Express Stakes on July 2.
Source: Gulfstream Park