Dortmund blows out three furlongs for Awesome Again

Dortmund, “retired” from racing when finishing fourth by nearly 10 lengths after stumbling at the start in the Santana Stakes last April 1, returns to competition Saturday in the Grade I, Win and You’re In Awesome Again Stakes for three-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles.

The Awesome Again is one of five Grade I, $300,000 Win and You’re In events Saturday, giving the winner a fees-paid berth to its respective Breeders’ Cup race Nov. 3 & 4.

Dortmund, a winner of the 2015 Santa Anita Derby (Grade I), had a three-furlong blowout for the race in 37.40 Wednesday under Gary Stevens, who has ridden the chestnut horse twice before, winning the Grade III Native Diver Nov. 28, 2015, at Del Mar and finishing second behind California Chrome in the San Diego Handicap July 23, 2016.

“It was just a little something to open his lungs up and keep him happy,” Stevens said.

Trained by Art Sherman for Kaleem Shah, Dortmund won his first six races before finishing third to eventual Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in the 2015 Kentucky Derby when conditioned by Bob Baffert.

“He needed a little time off,” said Alan Sherman, Art’s son and assistant who was on hand for the drill. “He got it and he came back really good. He’s as sound as he’s been since we’ve had him.