Awesome Slate new shooter in Pasco
OLDSMAR, Fla. – The $100,000 Pasco Stakes lost its likely favorite earlier this month when it was discovered that Ishaq, the undefeated winner of the $67,500 Inaugural Stakes here on Dec. 19, had a chip in his knee that will keep him out of action for four months.
But no worries. Saturday’s seven-furlong test for 3-year-olds still features a pair of stakes winners in Awesome Slate and Formal Summation, who could vie for favoritism in the field of 10.
Awesome Slate will be making his first start for trainer Brian Lynch after dominating his last two starts at Northlands Park in October for trainer Tim Rycroft. The front-running son of Summer Bird won a second-level allowance by 4 1/2 lengths and romped by 7 3/4 lengths in the $37,981 Canadian Juvenile to close out 2015.
Awesome Slate has been training steadily at Palm Meadows for his 3-year-old debut and will have Angel Serpa aboard for the first time Saturday.
“He’s certainly trained well leading up to this, and I feel that it’s certainly worth taking a shot in there, the way he’s training,” Lynch said. “He seems like an honest type, and it seems like his heart is in the right spot. He’s a tough little guy, and he’s ready to run.”
Formal Summation won the $75,000 Laurel Futurity in September and most recently rallied strongly to be second in the Inaugural Stakes, beaten a neck. Jay’s Way, who rallied to be third in the Inaugural, three-quarters of a length farther back, also returns in this spot.
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KEY CONTENDERS
Awesome Slate (Last 3 Beyers: 75-75-58)
◗ Gets Lasix for the first time here. “I just opted to put him on it,” Lynch said. “It certainly can’t hurt him.”
Formal Summation (Last 3 Beyers: 69-71-63)
◗ Sold for only $6,200 as a yearling but has earned $104,963 in six starts, all for trainer Kathleen O’Connell. She and jockey Ronnie Allen Jr. have teamed up to go 6 for 23 here in 2015-16, with a highly profitable $4.39 return on investment.
Jay’s Way (Last 3 Beyers: 67-69-68)
◗ Runs for the top local team of jockey Antonio Gallardo and trainer Jamie Ness, who have teamed up to win at a 36 percent clip here since the start of 2015.
Hand of Power (Last 3 Beyers: 76-46-52)
◗ Won his maiden impressively last out, going a mile at Churchill Downs in November, and turned in a bullet workout at Palm Meadows on Jan. 12 for trainer Ian Wilkes.
Morning Fire (Last 3 Beyers: 77-73-86)
◗ Owns the top Beyer Speed Figure in the field and has been the runner-up in three restricted stakes.
Epic Journey (Last 3 Beyers: 79-58-72)
◗ Won his maiden impressively on this track last month in his third start.