Awesome Gem preps for Pacific Classic

Awesome Gem worked a half-mile in 48.60 seconds at Del Mar on Tuesday, his first workout since a win in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup on July 10. Awesome Gem is being pointed for the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 28, a race in which the 7-year-old gelding was second in 2007, then seventh in both 2008 and 2009.
“He was into the bit and really worked well,” trainer Craig Dollase said of the workout.
Dollase gave Awesome Gem a few quiet weeks off training in late July in an attempt to be better prepared for the Pacific Classic.
“We’ve done that by design and mapped out a schedule,” Dollase said.
Awesome Gem is owned by the West Point Thoroughbreds partnership, whose West Coast manager is the former jockey Jeff Bloom.
In late June, Bloom worked Awesome Gem before the Gold Cup, raving about his condition. Bloom will not have that active of a role in the lead-up to the Pacific Classic.
Last Friday, Bloom suffered two broken ribs in a one-horse spill. The injury has ended plans for him to make a one-race comeback as a jockey later this month at Del Mar.
Bloom said over the weekend that he was discharged from a hospital on the day of the accident after he was unseated when a 2-year-old he was aboard tried to jump the outside rail during morning training.
Bloom and owner Mike Shustek had planned for Bloom to ride one of Shustek’s horses in a maiden race.
Three maiden winners may go right to stakes
The three horses that won two maiden races for 2-year-olds last weekend are being considered for Grade 1 races in September.
Asno Del Caramelo and Ribat finished in a dead heat for first in a six-furlong maiden race on Saturday and are possible for the $250,000 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 8. Ribat would need to be supplemented for $10,000.
The $250,000 Darley Debutante for 2-year-old fillies on Sept. 4 is on the schedule of Avid, who won a six-furlong maiden race for fillies on Sunday in her debut.
Seminar offered on partnerships, syndicates
The Thoroughbred Owners of California is conducting a complimentary seminar on organizing partnerships and syndicates at Del Mar on Saturday.
The morning-long session begins at 8:30 and includes a discussion with owners and trainers on buying horses, forming partnerships and financial obligations, and a tour of selected barns. Further information can be obtained by calling (858) 794-1018.
◗ Trainer Ben Cecil has been fined $750 after Hyades, the second-place finisher in the Grade 1 Charles Whittingham Handicap at Hollywood Park on June 5, tested positive for the muscle relaxant methocarbamol. Hyades finished 1 1/4 lengths behind Acclamation as a 14-1 chance.