Improbable Takes Over Top Spot In Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings

Improbable, a commanding 4 ½-length winner of Saturday's Awesome Again Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park, leaped from fourth to first place in Week #11 of the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, overtaking stablemate Maximum Security for the top spot.

The 2020 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings is a weekly poll of the top 10 horses in contention for the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). The 1 ¼-mile Classic, scheduled to be run on Nov. 7 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., is the climactic race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Improbable (308 votes), owned by WinStar Farm, CHC Inc. and SF Racing, and Maximum Security (274 votes), the Awesome Again runner-up, owned by Gary and Mary West, Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith, are both trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. The Awesome Again was a Breeders' Cup Challenge automatic qualifying race for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. Improbable had already earned a Classic berth when he won the Whitney (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 1.

GMB Racing's Tom's d'Etat (268 votes), who captured the “Win and You're In” Stephen Foster Stakes (G2), drops from second to third place, and is now followed in fourth by Sackatoga Stable's Tiz the Law (223 votes), winner of both the Belmont (G1) and Travers Stakes (G1).

The next six places in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings remain unchanged.  Spendthrift Farm, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables and Starlight Racing's Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Authentic (207 votes), the 9-5 favorite in Saturday's “Win and You're In” Preakness Stakes (G1), is in fifth place. Also trained by Baffert, Authentic earned a Classic berth when he won the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park on July 18. Authentic is followed by Allied Racing Stable's By My Standards (162 votes) and W.S. Farish's Code of Honor (92 votes) in sixth and seventh place, respectively.

Bruce Lunsford's Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) winner Art Collector (83 votes), the 5-2 second choice in the Preakness, is in eighth place, one spot ahead of Sagamore Farm and WinStar Farm's Woodward Stakes (G1) winner Global Campaign (74 votes). Juddmonte Farms' Suburban Stakes (G2) winner Tacitus (64 votes) is in 10th place.

Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings – Sept. 30, 2020*

RANK HORSE TOTAL VOTES FIRST-PLACE VOTES
1 Improbable 308 15
2 Maximum Security 274 7
3 Tom's d'Etat 268 8
4 Tiz the Law 223 4
5 Authentic 207 0
6 By My Standards 162 0
7 Code of Honor   92 0
8 Art Collector   83 0
9 Global Campaign   74 0
10 Tacitus   64 0

*Note – The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings have no bearing on qualification or selection into the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.

The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings are determined by a panel of leading Thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers and members of the Breeders' Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel. Rankings will be announced each week through Oct. 13. A list of voting members can be found here.

In the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, each voter rates horses on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system in descending order.

The 2020 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic will be televised live on NBC.

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Improbable’s Awesome Again Win Moves Him To The Front In NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll

A third straight Grade 1 victory has put Improbable in the driver's seat of the handicap ranks heading into the November 7 Breeders' Cup Classic as the son of City Zip takes over the lead in this week's National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Top Thoroughbred Poll.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert for owners WinStar Farm, China Horse Club International, and SF Racing, Improbable moved to the forefront of the race for divisional honors when he captured the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes by 4 ½ lengths on Sept. 26. That victory earned the 4-year-old chestnut colt 28 first-place votes and 354 points in the poll, knocking his stablemate Maximum Security out of the top spot.

Since opening his 2020 campaign with a runner-up finish in the April 11 Oaklawn Mile Stakes, Improbable has reeled off top-level wins in the Hollywood Gold Cup, Whitney, and Awesome Again Stakes.

“Improbable is getting really good,” Baffert told the Santa Anita Park publicity team on Sunday. “He's got a lot of Grade 1s on his resume, he's filled out, matured, and Drayden (Van Dyke) rode a great race, just sat back there early on.”

Champion Maximum Security finished second in the Awesome Again Stakes, halting a six-race win streak. The 4-year-old bay colt dropped to second overall in the poll with 3 first-place votes and 277 points.

Multiple Grade 1 winner Vekoma (3 first-place votes, 246 points) is third followed by Tom's d'Etat (2 first-place votes, 228 points) and champion Monomoy Girl (1 first-place vote, 195 points).

Multiple graded stakes winner By My Standards remains sixth with 153 points followed by champion Midnight Bisou (139 points) and Tiz the Law (108). Kentucky Derby winner Authentic (99 points) and multiple Grade 1 winner Rushing Fall (71) round out the top 10.

Authentic, who is also trained by Baffert, continues to head up the NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Poll ahead of his expected run in the Oct. 3 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. The son of Into Mischief notched 23 first-place votes and 356 points this week and was installed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's Preakness.

Belmont and Travers Stakes winner Tiz the Law continues to hold in second with 14 first-place votes and 347 points while Grade 2 winner Art Collector – the 5-2 second choice on the Preakness morning line – remains in third with 269 points.

Kentucky Oaks runner-up and Preakness entrant Swiss Skydiver moves up one spot to fourth with 176 points followed by the recently retired Honor A. P. (162 points) and Thousand Words (149).

Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil sits seventh with 116 points with Preakness entrant Max Player (96 points) in eighth. Grade 1 winner Gamine (90 points) and Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Mr. Big News (62) complete the top 10.

The NTRA Top Thoroughbred polls are the sport's most comprehensive surveys of experts. Every week eligible journalists and broadcasters cast votes for their top 10 horses, with points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. All horses that have raced in the U.S., are in training in the U.S., or are known to be pointing to a major event in the U.S. are eligible for the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll. Voting in both the Top Three-Year-Old Poll and the Top Thoroughbred Poll is scheduled to be conducted through the conclusion of the Breeders' Cup in November.

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Weekend Lineup: Awesome Again Highlights Stakes Action At Santa Anita

The upcoming week is highlighted by the opening of Santa Anita Park's fall meet, which was delayed by a week due to wildfires in the region. The weekend's slate features seven Breeders' Cup Challenge Series “Win and You're In” races including Saturday's headliner, the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes, which offers a fees-paid berth into the Breeders' Cup Classic.

TVG is the go-to network for comprehensive coverage of racing at Santa Anita Park, starting on opening day September 25. TVG will also feature racing from marquee venues across the country including Gulfstream Park, Monmouth Park and more.

Racing from Belmont Park and Churchill Downs continues on “America's Day at the Races” which airs on either FS1 or FS2. Check the schedule below for air times. The weekend's coverage on “America's Day at the Races” is highlighted by Saturday's Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont, a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Friday September 25

6:12 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Chillingworth Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Bob Baffert holds a strong three-card hand in the Chillingworth Stakes at Santa Anita, with his streaking 4-year-old Qahira, who is in search of her fourth consecutive win, rating top billing among a field of seven fillies and mares three and up going 6 ½ furlongs. Baffert will also be well represented by classy Quality Response, a restricted stakes winner at two who will be making her second start of the year on Friday and by recent restricted stakes winner Message, a 4-year-old filly that will be shortening up out of four consecutive routes.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092520USA6-EQB.html

6:43 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Eddie D. Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

A graded stakes winning turf sprinter who was most recently a close fourth in a Grade 1 sprint on dirt, trainer Doug O'Neill's Wildman Jack looks like the horse to beat among a field of seven 3-year-olds and up in Friday's Eddie D. Stakes to be run at 5 ½ furlongs on turf. A W.C. Racing homebred 4-year-old gelding by O'Neill's 2013 Santa Anita Derby winner Goldencents, Wildman Jack was last seen at Santa Anita winning the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes three starts back on May 23.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092520USA7-EQB.html

Saturday September 26

2:16 p.m.—$125,000 Grade 3 Ontario Fashion Stakes at Woodbine on TVG

Sav chases her second added-money title in Saturday's $125,000 Ontario Fashion, a six-furlong main track event which has attracted six starters. Trained by Ricky Griffith for owner Steven Duffield, Sav, who took last year's La Prevoyante Stakes, will go after her second straight win after a half-length score over seven furlongs on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course on August 15.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO092620CAN3-EQB.html

4:35 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

With three out of the five runners in the Chandelier Stakes, Bob Baffert would appear to “have 'em surrounded” indeed, as his budding starlet Princess Noor fairly towers over her competitors, based upon two impressive tallies at Del Mar over the summer. Princess Noor has done little wrong in two starts, taking her 5 ½ furlong debut by 2 ½ lengths at 3-5 on August 22 and crushing five rivals by 6 ½ lengths at 3-5 in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante going seven furlongs on September 6.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092620USA3-EQB.html

4:42 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Noble Damsel Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

Feel Glorious (GB) has finished on the board in each of her last six starts and will look to win her second consecutive stakes contest in Saturday's Noble Damsel for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up on the Belmont Park Widener turf. Owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Tango Uniform Racing, Feel Glorious defeated fellow Noble Damsel-contender Chaleur in the 1 1/16-mile Perfect Sting on August 14 over firm Saratoga Race Course turf. That marked the Bated Breath filly's first win in three attempts of her 4-year-old campaign, which started with a third-place effort in the Grade 2 New York going 1 1/4 miles on June 27 at Belmont.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL092620USA8-EQB.html

4:53 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Ack Ack Stakes at Churchill Downs on FS2

Ten Strike Racing and Madaket Stables' multiple stakes winner Warrior's Charge tops a full field of 14 that were entered in the one-mile Ack Ack. Trained by Brad Cox, Warrior's Charge was elevated to first in last month's Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin Stakes at Monmouth after interference by Pirate's Punch in the stretch. Warrior's Charge, a 4-year-old son of Munnings, won the Grade 3 Razorback at Oaklawn earlier this year and finished second behind By My Standards in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD092620USA9-EQB.html

5:14 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

Six-time graded stakes winning millionaire Firenze Fire will take on five others in Saturday's Vosburgh Stakes over six furlongs. Firenze Fire has won four of his seven starts over Big Sandy, including a 1 ½-length score in the Grade 2 True North on June 27 three starts back. During his juvenile season, the Florida homebred son of Poseidon's Warrior bested subsequent champion Good Magic in the Grade 1 Champagne on October 2017 and was a runaway nine-length winner of the Grade 3 Dwyer in July 2018.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL092620USA9-EQB.html

6:41 p.m.—$300,000 Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Blessed with a pair of talented turf distaffers, trainer Richard Baltas has a big look at the Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita, as his Lady Prancealot (IRE), a fast closing second in her most recent start, has solid distance credentials, while his Bodhicitta is in top form although distance may be a question. A winner of the Grade 1 American Oaks in her only try at the Rodeo Drive distance five starts back on December 28, Lady Prancealot is winless in four graded stakes this year, but she flew late to be beaten a diminishing neck in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes at Del Mar September 5 and merits top billing.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092620USA7-EQB.html

7:12 p.m.—$300,000 Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

A gutty runner-up in two summertime starts, Bob Baffert's highly regarded Spielberg looms the horse to beat in the American Pharoah Stakes. Most recently second, beaten 1 ¾ lengths in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity going seven furlongs on September 7, Spielberg, a $1 million Keeneland September Yearling, will try two turns for the first time and be ridden for the first time by eastern-based Luis Saez.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092620USA8-EQB.html

7:43 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

A winner of three out of his last four starts and no worse than third in his last nine, Richard Mandella's classy United heads up a field of eight 3-year-olds in Saturday's John Henry Turf Championship. Most recently second, beaten a diminishing head at 3-5 in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap, United will again use the John Henry as a springboard to the Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland, a race in which he was a close second to eventual Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar last year at Santa Anita.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092620USA9-EQB.html

8:14 p.m.—$300,000 Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Unbeaten in two starts for Bob Baffert, Gary and Mary West's homebred Maximum Security, the No. 1-ranked horse in the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll, heads a field of field of five in Awesome Again Stakes. Maximum Security comes off a huge three length win in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic on August 22 and will once again be a prohibitive favorite. Baffert's Improbable, winner of the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga August 1, will be bidding for his third consecutive win.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092620USA10-EQB.html

Sunday September 27

5 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

An impressive gate to wire winner of her last two starts, the Gary and Mary West homebred Fighting Mad looms a standout in the Zenyatta Stakes, to be contested at 1 1/16-miles. Trainer Simon Callaghan's Harvest Moon, a 3-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo, has won her last three starts and is an up and comer that will attract considerable pari-mutuel attention. Hard Not to Love, a Grade 1 winner and well accomplished, comes off a dull sixth behind Fighting Mad in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch at Del Mar and will hope to rebound for trainer John Shirreffs.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092720USA4-EQB.html

5:24 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Remington Park Oaks at Remington Park on TVG

Trainer Kenny McPeek has three of the eight horses entered for the Remington Park Oaks, including the heavy 7-5 morning-line favorite Envoutante. McPeek is looking for his second victory in this race, having won the 2013 edition with Montana Native. His other two entrants also certainly have a shot Sunday with Jeweled Princess at 4-1 and Curls and Bows at 6-1. That gives him three of the top four favorites in this field.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/RP092720USA4-EQB.html

7 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Trainer Mark Glatt's red-hot Collusion Illusion, who seeks his fourth consecutive win and C Z Rocket, in search of his fifth consecutive win photo, headline a solid field of five 3-year-olds and up in Sunday's Santa Anita Sprint Championship at six furlongs. A winner of five out of six starts, Collusion Illusion was all heart in taking Del Mar's Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes by a nose on August 1, while C Z Rocket, in his first graded stakes assignment, proved best by half a length in the Grade 2 Pat O'Brien going seven furlongs on August 29.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092720USA8-EQB.html

8 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

In a marathon devoid of any clear standout, Tizamagician, Azul Coast and Combatant all figure prominently among a field of seven in the Tokyo City Cup. A gate to wire first condition allowance winner going one mile on September 5 at Del Mar, Tizamagician broke his maiden on January 1 and now has two wins from six starts this year. A non-threatening fifth on turf in the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap August 9, Azul Coast was second to his eventual Kentucky Derby winning stablemate Authentic five starts back in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes January 4.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092720USA10-EQB.html

8:12 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park on TVG

A competitive field of nine horses were drawn for the Oklahoma Derby with Indiana Derby winner Shared Sense being made the 5-2 morning-line favorite. The three horses with top earnings in the field are close in talent and in odds with Dean Martini at 7-2. He comes in as the winner of the Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby and the top money earner in the field of nine horses at $393,202. Rowdy Yates, trying to become only the third Oklahoma-bred to win the Oklahoma Derby, is second in earnings with $346,556, and listed as the third-choice in the morning line at 4-1 odds.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/RP092720USA10-EQB.html

11:55 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Canadian Derby at Century Mile on TVG

Trainer Robertino Diodoro has won four of the last seven Canadian Derbies. He goes for his fifth on Sunday with Something Natural, who was third in the Manitoba Derby behind Mongolian Wind and Mr. Unusual, who have both come to Edmonton. Something Natural did run second to eventual Louisiana Derby winner Wells Bayou at Oaklawn Park and also won a solid allowance race at Oaklawn.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CTM092720CAN10-EQB.html

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The House that Awesome Again Built

All eyes will be on Santa Anita for their opening weekend feature in the GI Awesome Again S. as Bob Baffert trainees Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) and Improbable (City Zip) go head to head for the first time since that consequential first Saturday in May last year.

The $300,000 Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” contest could mark the emergence of an unusual stablemate rivalry.

Over two decades ago, the race’s namesake was part of a different rivalry– one for 1998 Horse of the Year.

Awesome Again had gone undefeated that year, claiming five consecutive victories in the GII Stephen Foster H., GI Whitney, GII Saratoga Breeders’ Cup H., GIII Hawthorne Gold Cup H. and finally the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic.

While his chief competitor Skip Away ended up finishing sixth in that year’s Classic, his five Grade I wins from earlier in the year were enough for Skip Away to be named Horse of the Year.

Adena Springs Stallion Manager Bill Drury admits his bias, but he said he still believes Awesome Again should have received the title from his Classic victory.

“That year’s Classic was the strongest field of horses ever put together in the same race,” he said. “I think he should have got Horse of the Year off that. Had he beat Skip Away twice, he would have.”

To prove his point, Drury can rattle off the field’s Grade I winners by heart: Awesome Again, Skip Away, Silver Charm, Arch, Gentlemen (Arg), Coronado’s Quest, Touch Gold, Swain (Ire) and Victory Gallop.

The horseman remembers being in the Churchill Downs’ grandstand that day.

“I didn’t see him cross the finish line because I knew I wanted to be in that winner’s circle,” he recalled. “When I saw Pat Day lead him between those horses, I knew he had it. It was such a thrill. I knew he was coming to my stallion barn and I was on cloud nine when he won that race.”

Drury said that Awesome Again got his Horse of the Year vengeance soon after taking up stud duty.

Awesome Again wins the Breeders’ Cup Classic with Pat Day aboard | Horsephotos

“I tell people that when he didn’t get it, it ticked him off so he said, ‘I’ll make my own Horse of the Year,’ and he produced Ghostzapper in his first crop.”

2004 Horse of the Year and Hall of Fame inductee Ghostzapper is one of the 14 Grade I winners, 13 millionaires and four Breeders’ Cup Champions that Awesome Again has produced. Ghostzapper’s win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic made his sire the first Classic winner to also sire a Classic winner.

After 21 years at stud, Awesome Again was officially pensioned last year from stud duty.

“After all that he’s done for us, we decided to let him enjoy his retirement,” Drury said. “We had people begging, ‘I’ve got a mare I want to breed to Awesome Again,’ and we literally had to keeping saying no. He deserved retirement.”

Even still, when Drury introduces guests to the farm, the homebred for Frank Stronach is still the headliner.

“I always start by telling my visitors to Adena Springs, ‘Welcome to the house that Awesome Again built.’ He’s our corner-post stallion. He’s still a crowd favorite when people come. He’s our first homebred champion and we’ve gotten several champions by him.”

Drury and Awesome Again have formed a close bond over their many years together, and the 26-year-old bay will always have a place in Drury’s heart.

“We’re pretty good buddies,” he said with a smile. “I believe the saying that cream rises to the top. Well he’s got to be one of the sweetest creams there is. His personality is one in a million. He’s got the heart of a champion and he’s just a classy horse.”

Adena Springs Stallion Sales Manager Ken Wilkins spoke on the success the farm has had with the son of Deputy Minister.

“A phenomenon you don’t see that much anymore is people taking the time and patience to develop sire lines,” Wilkins said. “Deputy Minister had a huge impact in Canada and of course in the United States. Awesome Again was one of our foundation sires and that led to Ghostzapper, who’s been a star in his own right.”

Wilkins noted that the sire line has come full circle at this year’s yearling sales.

“This will be Awesome Again’s last crop of yearlings that will go to sale. But at the same time, the sire line has been carried on by our Shaman Ghost (Ghostzapper), whose first crop of yearlings are offered this year. So it’s kind of a transition. Our hope is that Shaman Ghost will carry the baton.”

Wilkins added that he expects breeders will soon find many of the same characteristics in Shaman Ghost as they did in his grandsire.

“Breeders recognized the quality and consistency that Awesome Again had as a sire,” he said. “One of the things he brought to the table was that he was a proven bet. We certainly bet on him over and over again, and we cashed a lot of tickets from making those bets.”

Frank Stronach greets Shaman Ghost after his win in the GI Santa Anita H. | Benoit

Game on Dude, an eight-time Grade I winner and record three-time GI Santa Anita H. winner, is Awesome Again’s leading earner and one of his five multi-millionaires.

“Game on Dude is probably Awesome Again’s fan-favorite offspring,” Wilkins said. “It seems like a week doesn’t go by without someone coming out here and mentioning him. The career that horse had was tremendous.”

Awesome Again’s four other multi-millionaires include Ghostzapper, Eclipse Champion Older Mare Ginger Punch, GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Champion Wilko and Awesome Gem.

Drury explained that he has found a common trait in many of his charge’s top progeny.

“He’s not a big horse, but he put a giant’s heart in his horses,” he said. “Ginger Punch, Wilko, Game on Dude- they’re not big horses, but they could run. You can’t even see Ginger Punch in the photo finish [of her win in the 2007 GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff] because she was behind the horse that came in second. If there was one trait he passed on more than anything, it was the heart he put in the horse.”

In recent years, Awesome Again’s most successful progeny include last year’s GI Belmont S. winner Sir Winston, as well as Grade II winners Bravazo, Always Shopping and Something Awesome.

“That’s the sign of a great sire,” Wilkins said. “Great sires keep coming up with good horses. Then the next thing you see from a great sire is that they become a great broodmare sire.”

Awesome Again’s daughters have produced six Grade I winners, including Eclipse Champion Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky). Ghostzapper looks to continue the trend as the broodmare sire of Triple Crown hero Justify (Scat Daddy) and champion sprinter Drefong (Gio Ponti).

With Awesome Again’s final crops now hitting the track, Adena Springs hopes he can pass on the baton to the stallion empire he has constructed.

“He’s the center post of my stallion barn,” Drury said. “We’ve got his son, we’ve got his grandson and we have his half-brother Macho Uno (Holy Bull). He’s Adena Springs’ legacy, and I’m proud as I can be to have been with him.”

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