Awesome Force hits Japan in the Grade II Kyoto
Race ID:3868.5013
Grade II The Kyoto Handicap
$1,200,000, 4 Year Olds and Up
One Mile and Three Eighths (11 F)
Track: Turf
Local racegoers were treated to an awesome display of raw horsepower as camry’s super horse AWESOME FORCE(KY) was simply that in the 1st Edition of the $1.2M Grade II Kyoto Handicap over eleven furlongs of turf in Japan. Completing the trip in 2:15 flat, the five year old son of Awesome Again came from out of the clouds to win going away having the measure of both second place finisher GAI(KY) and MONTE YOUN(IRE) who held on for third in the run to the wire. As far back as seventeen and only ahead of two horses at the mid-point, Awesome Force(KY) began to chew up ground in a hurry as he roared like a freight train through the homestretch. He now has eleven career wins and $7.2M in the bank. lenny12’s standout THE GUN WENT OFF(KY) ran a disppointing sixth and was never in it being beaten twelve in the end. landen1’s mare STAYER(IRE) though she tried to go with the early pace setter could not hold off the charge of the other two and finished fourth. Place her on your watch tab as she’ll be dangerous on a cutback to a mile in the future.
GRADED HANDICAPS: Hladun said …
PP 9: 117824 AWESOME FORCE(KY) camry (3/1) RANK: 290
“After twenty-seven consecutive dirt races, this five year old son of Awesome Again competed on the turf for the first time in his last where he finished a fast closing second in the Grade III Marcos Footwear Handicap. In that event he was as far back as sixteen lengths at one point and needs to track closer in this event if he wants to have a chance to get there in time. He has lot’s of graded experience and has banked $6.5M to date. He would not be a surprise.”
QUESTION:
Did he learn enough last out on turf to win today? Magic 8 Ball says … “Without a doubt”
PP 8: 120390 GAI(KY) tulloch (16/1) RANK: 65
“This five year old daughter of Cryptoclearance is trying the boys for the first time in her career. Her best graded result was three starts back in the Grade III Canary Stakes where she ran a close second at fourteen furlongs. She did employ a speed style that day and the abbreviated distance will not pose a problem for her here. Her best tactic may be to lay just off pace and make a move through the stretch if the speed falters. A difficult challenge in this spot.”
QUESTION:
Can she compete with the boys in this event? Magic 8 Ball says … “Very doubtful”
PP 4: 17866 MONTE YOUN(IRE) monte1 R. Andretti (7/2) RANK: 131
“This nine year old son of Doyoun(IRE) though the elder statesman in this race has only competed fourteen times. In fact, he raced only three times a s two year old in 2002 and didn’t resurface again until February of 2008 where he promptly broke his maiden and the rest is well history. He has won six of his starts to date and finished in the money now nine times. He comes out of the Grade III Buck Dharma Handicap where he wired the field at today’s distance in a handy 2:14:1 (115). A repeat of that effort pops the champagne again and no doubt will have the geriatric support at the windows. A strong contender.”
QUESTION:
Can he repeat the superior effort of his latest? Magic 8 Ball says … “Without a doubt”
MEDIA QUOTES:
“This is a special horse isn’t he? Simply AWESOME! Well he lived up to his name today and Suzuki timed that run just perfectly. We’ll see how he comes out of the race and make our decision later this week about his future.” … camry (in the winner’s circle)
“I was a little farther back than I had hoped to be early on but I let him tell me where he wanted to be. I just tried to hug the rail to save ground and then sweep the field in the turn for home. When he was ready to go he just fired and I was able to find an open lane for him to shoot through. I hope to hook up with him again in the future.” … I. Suzuki (jockey aboard winner Awesome Force)
“We knew our best chance was to go to the lead and try to wire this field. Camry’s horse was simply amazing today so you have to tip your cap to him. I knew my horse was fit enough but it was the winner’s day today. We’ll get him next time!” … monte1
“I knew he was going to run big today even though we weren’t getting much respect on the tote. It’s hard to take a mare against the boys but she was on her toes today … just full of herself. All week she’s been sharp in the morning. I had lot’s of horse going down the backstretch and just waited until she told me she was ready to go. The winner had a great run so you’ve got to hand it to him. He’s very deserving” … D. May (jockey on 2nd place finisher GAI(KY)