Sunday, April 9, 2017
Awesome Slew couldn't have been more impressive than in Saturday's $250,000 Commonwealth S. (G3) at Keeneland, coming from eighth with three furlongs to run and going some seven-wide into the stretch to win the seven-furlong contest by 1 1/2-lengths.
“I want to say thanks to (Live Oak owner) Charlotte (Weber) for giving us this opportunity,” said trainer Mark Casse. (Awesome Slew) trained really good. We went back and looked and thought maybe, he was making a big move in the middle and then flattening out, so we looked at cutting him back. Our goal is the Met Mile (Metropolitan Handicap-G1 on June 10). I said to Mrs. Weber, ‘We can either go from here to the Alysheba-G2 (1 1/16 miles on May 5 at Churchill Downs) if this is too short or go to the Churchill Downs-G2 (on May 6 at 7 furlongs).”
Facing a top-class field of sprinters, the homebred 4-year-old colt was very patiently ridden by Joel Rosario, who let Awesome Slew gallop along near the back of the field as they made their way up the backstretch. Awesome Again began his rally mid-way on the turn, going extremely wide on the turn and rolling by the field in the stretch to finish the race in 1:22.31 on a fast main track.
“Very good trip,” said Rosario. “I knew they were going to get away from me a little bit. I rode this horse last time a little bit off the pace, and he just took his time. He had a tremendous finish today. Turning for home, he was really rolling. I was really happy when he started moving up and kept going.”
Awesome Slew, winner of last year's Smarty Jones S. (G3), is now 4-1-3 in 11 starts.