Belmont: Awesome Feather under consideration for Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic

ELMONT, N.Y. – It is just a thought, not yet a plan. But trainer Chad Brown will spend the next two weeks thinking about sending the undefeated Awesome Feather to Churchill Downs for the $2 million Ladies’ Classic on Nov. 4.

Awesome Feather, last year’s champion 2-year-old filly, made a successful return to the races here at Belmont Park on Wednesday, winning the $60,000 Le Slew Stakes by two lengths. She ran seven furlongs in 1:22.76 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 81. It was her seventh career victory in as many starts.

Awesome Feather, who missed most of the year due to a bowed tendon, came out of Wednesday’s race in good order, Brown said Friday, though she has yet to go back to the track. Brown said he believes Wednesday’s race gave Awesome Feather the “last bit of fitness that she needed’’ to return to facing better competition.

Brown and owner Frank Stronach will explore several different options, but Brown is somewhat intrigued by the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic. With top older fillies Havre de Grace and Blind Luck not running in the Ladies’ Classic, the race is expected to be dominated by 3-year-old fillies such as Plum Pretty, It’s Tricky, Royal Delta, and Zazu.

“If I can run for that much money and that prestigious of a race against just my own age group I got to at least look at it,’’ Brown said. “I’ve been looking at it a little bit now that she’s got a race under her belt. I know she likes the track over there. It’s something I’ll bring up to [owner Frank] Stronach, but first and foremost it really depends on how she’s doing, but I’m going to look at it.’’

Brown said Awesome Feather will likely return to the track over the weekend.

“We’re walking her a couple of times a day, she seems happy and sound,’’ Brown said. “We’ll kick her back into gear this week and see where we’re at.’’

Awesome Feather capped her perfect 6-for-6 championship campaign last year with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile fillies at Churchill Downs.