Sleepy Eyes Todd headed to Santa Anita for Awesome Again Stakes

Sleepy Eyes Todd was scheduled to fly to Santa Anita on Monday night for an intended start in that track’s Grade 1, $300,000 Awesome Again on Sept. 26, according to trainer Miguel Silva.

The horse is based at Remington Park.

Sleepy Eyes Todd is being pointed for the Awesome Again because of its status as a Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Silva said Monday.

“It’s going to be a tough race,” he said.

Last month, Sleepy Eyes Todd won the Grade 2, $600,000 Charles Town Classic by 7 1/2 lengths, earning a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 102. He led throughout and with the win improved his record to 6 for 12.

“We were really impressed with him,” Silva said. “He’s always been underrated. I believe this horse could be a millionaire already.”

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Silva said Sleepy Eyes Todd – nearing earnings of $600,000 – has had disruptions to his schedule dating back to last fall. He was set to run in the $250,000 Zia Park Derby after a runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby, but the week of the race New Mexico blocked entrance of Oklahoma-based horses due to equine herpesvirus cases at Remington.

Sleepy Eyes Todd ended up running in December at Remington and defeated older horses in the $100,000 Jeffrey A. Hawk Memorial. This year, Silva said the coronavirus pandemic had disrupted plans for the horse, but things are back on track now heading into Santa Anita.

“Hopefully, he can keep improving and winning races,” Silva said.

Jockey Umberto Rispoli is scheduled to ride Sleepy Eyes Todd for Thumbs Up Racing.

Silva said the horse had a two-minute mile drill last week at Remington and will have another at Santa Anita as part of his preparation for the Awesome Again. The trainer is sending a few other horses to Southern California for overnight races at Santa Anita.