European 3yo headed to Aqueduct for the Gotham

DiscreetCat

from the Racing Post:

USA: Awesome Act headed out of Newmarket on Tuesday afternoon to fly to America for the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday.

The son of Breeders' Cup Classic winner Awesome Again is being considered for the Kentucky Derby on May 1, but connections are keen to see how he acts on the dirt at Aqueduct before formulating any further plans, which could included a trial in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial at the New York course on April 3.

The Jeremy Noseda-trained colt finished fourth to Pounced in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita in November and completed his work with an exercise spin on the Al Bahathri Polytrack on Tuesday morning.

Noseda said: "Unfortunately due to bad weather in New York we were unable to ship him to America last week.

"However, he leaves on Tuesday for New York and will hopefully ship well and be ready to take his place on Saturday. Julien Leparoux has been booked to ride.

"He had an easy breeze this morning and I'm hopeful this will set him straight, as due to quarantine restrictions and his late arrival he will be unable to train prior to the race."

DiscreetCat

Awesome Act won the Gotham on Saturday, and looked fantastic in doing so. He deserves to be one of the Derby favorites after this performance, i think...

Here's the video, Awesome Act is the #4 horse:

YouTube - 2010 Gotham Stakes (G3) - Awesome Act

DiscreetCat

A little more info on this highly-interesting prospect. I just read that Awesome Act's pedigree is heavily weighted towards grass (as you might expect from a European invader. Apparently, he's from the female family of Bago (who won the Arc a few years back), so that certainly bodes well for his stamina influences and the ability to get the 1 1/4-mile Derby distance.

But check this out. Awesome Act's mom was a half-sister to Machiavellian, whose son Street Cry scored a big win in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster @ Churchill Downs. And Awesome Act's dad (Awesome Again) won the Breeders Cup Classic @ Churchill.

So, at least judging by his pedigree, it seems that Awesome Act might enjoy the Churchill surface.

DiscreetCat

from Bloodhorse:

Gotham Stakes (gr. III) winner Awesome Act went an “easy” half-mile in :50.43 the morning of March 20 as he continued preparations for the $750,000 Wood Memorial (gr. I) at Aqueduct April 3.

With exercise rider George Windsor in the irons, the English import went out on Belmont Park’s training track shortly after the second renovation break in his first timed move since taking the Gotham March 6.

“It was nice and easy,” said Wayne Tanner, assistant to trainer Jeremy Noseda. “He’s taken to it here like a duck to water.”

Tanner said the son of Awesome Again, owned by Susan Roy and Vinery Stables, would have a more serious breeze next week, most likely the morning of March 25. Noseda is scheduled to fly in for the work.

In his first start on dirt, and first start since finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last November, Awesome Act rallied strongly through the stretch to win the Gotham impressively, covering the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.85.

Nominations close today for the 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial, New York’s final major stepping stone toward the Triple Crown.

In addition to Awesome Act, likely candidates for the Wood include Fountain of Youth (gr. II) winner Eskendereya and runner-up Jackson Bend, as well as Yawanna Twist, who was second in the Gotham. March 20 at Aqueduct, Yawanna Twist worked a half-mile in :50.38.

FlyinLate

DiscreetCat wrote: »

from Bloodhorse:

Gotham Stakes (gr. III) winner Awesome Act went an “easy” half-mile in :50.43 the morning of March 20 as he continued preparations for the $750,000 Wood Memorial (gr. I) at Aqueduct April 3.

With exercise rider George Windsor in the irons, the English import went out on Belmont Park’s training track shortly after the second renovation break in his first timed move since taking the Gotham March 6.

“It was nice and easy,” said Wayne Tanner, assistant to trainer Jeremy Noseda. “He’s taken to it here like a duck to water.”

Tanner said the son of Awesome Again, owned by Susan Roy and Vinery Stables, would have a more serious breeze next week, most likely the morning of March 25. Noseda is scheduled to fly in for the work.

In his first start on dirt, and first start since finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last November, Awesome Act rallied strongly through the stretch to win the Gotham impressively, covering the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.85.

Nominations close today for the 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial, New York’s final major stepping stone toward the Triple Crown.

In addition to Awesome Act, likely candidates for the Wood include Fountain of Youth (gr. II) winner Eskendereya and runner-up Jackson Bend, as well as Yawanna Twist, who was second in the Gotham. March 20 at Aqueduct, Yawanna Twist worked a half-mile in :50.38.

Good field. This should lead to a fair price on him.