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Awesome Again Dead at 26

Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and top sire Awesome Again (Deputy Minister–Primal Force, by Blushing Groom {Fr}) died suddenly Tuesday at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement farm in Georgetown, Kentucky. He was 26.

(Click here for video feature ‘The House That Awesome Again Built’)

The exact cause of death is unknown. A full necropsy is pending and a full veterinary report will follow.

The Canadian-bred had an exemplary resume as both a racehorse and a stallion. He broke his maiden at Hollywood Park in just his second start as a 3-year-old in 1997. He returned a few weeks later to capture that year’s Queen’s Plate S. at Woodbine. Back in the U.S. that summer the Stronach Stables homebred went on to win the GII Jim Dandy S. and was third in the GI Travers S. at Saratoga.

At four, he completed an undefeated season that included five graded stakes victories, among them the GI Stephen Foster H., GI Whitney H., and one of the most memorable editions of the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic, where, looking defeated, he rallied in the stretch to defeat Coronado’s Quest and Swain and that year’s GI Kentucky Derby-Preakness hero, Silver Charm.

He retired from racing in 1998 with nine wins from 12 starts and earnings of $4,374,590.

As significant in the breeding shed as he was on the track, Awesome again sired three champions: Ghostzapper, 2004 Horse of the Year and champion older horse; Ginger Punch, 2007 champion older mare; and Nominee, a multiple champion in Trinidad and Tobago.

His other elite runners include Old Friends retirees Game on Dude–who captured 14 graded stakes and is the only three-time winner of the GI Santa Anita H. in history–and Awesome Gem, who captured the GI Hollywood Gold Cup at age seven; GI Breeder’s Cup Distaff winner Round Pond; GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Wilko; and 2019 GI Belmont S. winner Sir Winston.

He sired 13 millionaires and five multi-millionaires as well as four Breeders’ Cup winner. Awesome Again was also the first Breeders’ Cup Classic winner to sire a Classic winner (Ghostzapper).

Awesome Again had been retired from stud duty at Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs in 2019 and was pensioned to Old Friends in October of this year.

“Anyone who ever saw Awesome Again on the racetrack or at Adena Springs knew he was aptly named,” Michael Blowen, founder and President of Old Friends, said. “I’m just sorry his time at Old Friends was so short because I know he would have made a searing, lasting impression on his many fans, and I’m so sorry that circumstances prevented him from displaying his greatness for a lot longer. Awesome, indeed.”

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Sunday’s Insights: Keeneland April 2yo Topper Debuts at Churchill Downs

3rd-CD, $85K, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 1m, 2:00 p.m. ET
First-time starter MISS TAPIRADO (Tapit) topped the 2019 Keeneland April 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, bringing $1.3 million from Prince Sultan bin Mishal Al Saud after breezing in a co-bullet :10 flat. Consigned by Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds, agent, she was previously a $775,000 KEENOV weanling purchase by Baccari Bloodstock. Grade I winner My Conquestadory (Artie Schiller) brought $1.5 million from SF Bloodstock & Newgate Farm while carrying Miss Tapirado at the Conquest Stables dispersal at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale. Miss Tapirado’s 4-year-old full-brother Bourbon War was second in the 2019 GII Xpressbet Fountain of Youth S. Miss Tapirado, drawn widest of all in post seven for this debut run, worked a bullet four furlongs in :47 4/5 (1/100) over the training track at Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott’s Belmont base back on Oct. 11. TJCIS PPs

7th-CD, $85K, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 4:06 p.m. ET
Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse unveils GHOSTLINER (Ghostzapper) in this full field of juveniles. John Oxley went to $475,000 to purchase the gray as a FTSAUG yearling. He was produced by a winning daughter of 2006 champion 3-year-old filly Wait a While (Maria’s Mon). Ghostliner’s worktab features several bullet moves, including a five-furlong drill in :59 1/5 (1/19) in Louisville Oct. 22.
The unlucky Sound Money (Flatter), favored at 2-1 on the morning line here, lost little in defeat rallying for second after a gate malfunction caused him to spot the field several lengths on debut for Chad Brown at Keeneland Oct. 11. TJCIS PPs

2nd-DMR, $57K, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 4:00 p.m. ET
LIFE IS GOOD (Into Mischief) looks like another live one for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert and his red-hot leading sire. The $525,000 KEESEP yearling, owned by CHC Inc and WinStar Farm LLC, tuned up for this with a five-furlong bullet from the gate in 1:00 (1/51) at Santa Anita Nov. 16 (XBTV Video). The 4-5 morning-line favorite’s second dam is former Baffert runner, SW & MGISP Bonnie Blue Flag (Mineshaft).
The field of six also includes fellow first-time starters: Scales of Justice (Uncle Mo), a son of MGISW Balance (Thunder Gulch); and $550,000 KEESEP yearling Roman Centurian (Empire Maker). TJCIS PPs

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Thoroughbred Charities Of America To Host Breeders’ Cup Halter Auction

Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) will host an online auction of halters worn by Breeders' Cup winners and contenders. The All-Star Halter Auction is set to open on Friday, Nov. 6 at 9 a.m. and will conclude on Monday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. EST. The auction is sponsored by LNJ Foxwoods and all proceeds will benefit TCA.

“In a normal year, we would be just days away from our annual Bash at the Breeders' Cup fundraising event,” said Erin Crady executive director of TCA. “However, like so many nonprofits, we've pivoted to an online fundraiser this year. The funds raised by the auction will help us to continue to make impactful grants to approved organizations working to transition Thoroughbreds into second careers, provide health and human services for backstretch and farm workers, and provide equine-assisted therapy services to men, women, and children.”

More than 50 halters worn by Breeders' Cup contenders and winners will be available for bidding. Halters worn by Classic winners Accelerate, American Pharoah, Awesome Again, Blame, Curlin, Ghostzapper, Gun Runner, Mucho Macho Man, Tiznow, Vino Rosso, and Zenyatta will be offered. A halter worn by 2020 Kentucky Derby winner and Classic contender Authentic as well as a halter and two shoes worn by Preakness-winning filly and Distaff contender Swiss Skydiver will be available. All halters may be previewed here.

Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) was formed in 1990 to raise and distribute funds to charities in the Thoroughbred industry that provide a better life for Thoroughbreds, both during and after their racing careers, by supporting qualified repurposing and retirement organizations and by helping the people who care for them. In 2020, TCA granted over $1 million to 70 charities working within Thoroughbred retraining, rehoming and retirement; backstretch and farm worker services, research, and equine-assisted therapy. Over the last 30 years, TCA has granted more than $24 million to more than 200 charities that successfully meet the criteria set forth in its annual grant application. TCA also administers the Horses First Fund, founded by LNJ Foxwoods in 2016, to assist Thoroughbreds in need of emergency aid. TCA is the charitable arm of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA). More information can be found at tca.org.

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Adena Stallions Moving to Hill ‘N’ Dale at Xalapa

Horse of the Year Ghostzapper (Awesome Again), Mucho Macho Man (Macho Uno) and Point of Entry (Dynaformer) will join the stallion roster at John Sikura’s Hill ‘N’ Dale at Xalapa outside of Paris, KY, according to a release from the farm. They are being relocated from Adena Springs. The fees for the three stallions are: Ghostzapper – $85,000 LFSN; Point of Entry – $7,500 LFSN; Mucho Macho Man – $7,500 LFSN.

“I have known John since he was a young man in Canada and his rise as a pre-eminent horseman is something I respect very much,” said Adena Springs’ Frank Stronach. “Two of the sires we are relocating to his new facility represent the epitome of what we have looked to achieve with our racing and breeding operations. Homebred and GI Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Ghostzapper is the best horse we’ve bred to date. The power of his pedigree has made the performance of Ghostzapper’s progeny predictable and outstanding. Champion Mucho Macho Man is another Breeders’ Cup winner who is by a Breeders’ Cup winner that we bred and raced. His two Grade I winners in 2020 prove his ability to sire the type of runner that we are all looking to campaign.”

Stronach continued, “Anyone who has seen the work that John Sikura has done at his new facility at Xalapa will know that it was born from a respect for the land and a passion for excellence. We are partners in this venture and I have no doubt that the great legacy of Ghostzapper will be enhanced under his care.”

Added Sikura: “These three new additions to our roster for 2021 are significant. Ghostzapper has sired five champions and 12 GI/G1 winners. He is a broodmare sire of huge importance being the broodmare sire of Triple Crown winner Justify. We will support him with top mares and we expect breeders will do the same. It is an honor to stand such a great sire.

He continued, “Point of Entry was a serious racehorse who comes from a deep Phipps family and the best is yet to come with him. Mucho Macho Man is a stallion that the more you study, the more you love. He is the sire of GI Pegasus World Cup winner Mucho Gusto as well as Mucho Unusual, winner of the GI Rodeo Drive S. at Santa Anita.”

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