Wins from King Angelo, Awesome Native part of spree by Jorge Abreu
OZONE PARK, N.Y. -- King Angelo and Awesome Native, older New York-bred males, posted impressive wins on back-to-back days for trainer Jorge Abreu, who enjoyed a run of five winners from seven starts at Aqueduct over the last month.
On Friday, the 6-year-old King Angelo won a first-level open allowance by 5 3/4 lengths, earning a 90 Beyer Speed Figure. It was the second straight solid run from King Angelo since Abreu moved him to the dirt from turf.
On Saturday, the 4-year-old Awesome Native won his second straight race to begin his career, taking a first-level statebred allowance by 6 1/4 lengths. He won his debut on Dec. 15 by 5 1/4 lengths and earned an 82 Beyer Speed Figure in both starts.
According to Abreu, that Awesome Native didn’t get to the races until the end of his 3-year-old season is not uncommon for owners Tom and Joan Farone, who also bred the son of Practical Joke.
“The owners like to take their time, [their] horses will race until they’re 6,7 and 8,” Abreu said. “He’s never in a rush to get there. I thought all along he was a 2-year-old until I entered him.
Though Awesome Native’s first two starts were at sprint distances, Abreu believes “the longer he goes, the better he goes.”
With the elimination of the Hollie Hughes, a sprint stakes for New York-breds, from the stakes program, the only stakes for older New York-bred males the remainder of the winter is the $100,000 Haynesfield going a mile on Feb. 20.
* Occult earned a 78 Beyer Speed Figure for her victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Busanda Stakes. Trainer Chad Brown indicated after the race he might wait until the Grade 3, $250,000 Gazelle Stakes on April 8 to run the filly back.
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