Awesome News as consistent as they come
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Awesome News has delivered more times than not in her eight-race career. On Thursday, when racing resumes at Aqueduct for the first time in nearly a week, Awesome News should garner the headlines as the horse to catch and beat in the $67,000, first-level allowance feature.
Awesome News, a New York-bred daughter of Congrats, steps into open company for the first time, but her speed, consistency, and affinity for Aqueduct’s inner track likely will have her favored in the seven-horse field of fillies and mares going six furlongs.
Awesome News, trained Rick Schosberg for Black Swan Stables, has never finished worse than third. She is 2 for 3 over the inner track, including a neck victory Shotgun Love in a second-level New York-bred allowance on Dec. 16. Shotgun Love came back to clear that condition on Jan. 7, recording a career-best 81 Beyer Speed Figure.
“Looking at the race, I think she fits in there,” Schosberg said.
Though she won her career debut last February from off the pace, Awesome News has developed into a front-runner.
“She’s kind of committed herself,” Schosberg said Monday at Belmont. “I never have told the jocks to go ahead and send. She just has this natural speed, and she’s developed into a very, very gritty filly that doesn’t want to be passed.”
The only horse to have beaten Awesome News in her last three starts is Myfourchix, a stakes-winning New York-bred also trained by Schosberg.
There is one other speed horse in the field, True Romance, who was second at this condition last out on New Year’s Day. Stormy Sky, Alliteration, and Lassofthemohicans are also contenders in this spot.
Starting Thursday, first post at Aqueduct is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.
KEY CONTENDERS
Awesome News, by Congrats
(Last 3 Beyers: 78-81-83)
◗ She is drawn in post 6, and jockey Jose Ortiz should be able to see what brother Irad does on True Romance, the other speed in the field who breaks from post 2.
“I certainly won’t take anything away from her,” Schosberg said. “Jose rode her perfectly last time.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Awesome News. Trainer Rick Schosberg is 18-1-3-5 with a $0.57 ROI over the past five years on the Aqueduct inner dirt with last-out winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Stormy Sky, by Sky Mesa
(Last 3 Beyers: 83-74-60)
◗ Her speed figures are improving with each start.
◗ She was turned back by a front-running winner, Mrs. Hudson, at this condition last out Dec. 10.
◗ Came from off the pace to win a starter allowance two starts back over Aqueduct’s main track.
Lassofthemohicans, by Indian Charlie
(Last 3 Beyers: 67-65-79)
◗ Makes her first start since June and her first for Bill Mott, who surprisingly is 0 for 21 at this meet.
◗ Was entered and scratched out of a similar spot Dec. 10 due to a popped splint bone.
◗ She is graded stakes-placed at seven furlongs and might want longer than this six-furlong race.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Alliteration. Trainer Linda Rice is 67-21-9-8 with a $2.77 ROI over the past five years in sprints on the Aqueduct inner dirt with last-out winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan