Awesome Feather dominates Nasty Storm Stakes; on track for BC

Whenever a horse returns to racing after an injury-induced layoff, one must wonder whether they are going to be at their best, or whether they might need a race or two before returning to peak form.

So when Awesome Feather won the Nasty Storm Stakes this afternoon at Belmont Park by 11 1/4 lengths while making her first start since January, one of the first thoughts to enter my mind was a simple question: "Assuming she's not in peak form yet, then how good might she be six weeks from now in the Breeders' Cup?"

Well, let's see -- her Nasty Storm form would make her a Breeders' Cup contender without a doubt. And should she improve upon it, then there's no telling how good she might be in November.

Ridden to victory by Jeffrey Sanchez, Awesome Feather was sent off as the 1-5 favorite in the Nasty Storm thanks to her unbeaten record. Facing only four rivals, Awesome Feather got off to an excellent start at the beginning of the one-mile race and soon settled comfortably into the third position, about 2 1/2 lengths behind Daddy's Honor, who set fractions of :22.63 and :44.96 seconds while leading All Due Respect by a length. Believe in A.P. and Kid Kate were the trailers.

Rounding the turn, Awesome Feather unleashed a powerful three-wide bid to seize command of the lead prior to the quarter pole, and reached that point in front by two lengths with her rivals rapidly retreating into the distance. Under a hand ride from Sanchez, the brilliant filly extended her lead throughout the stretch to hit the wire in front by close to a dozen lengths while stopping the clock for a mile in the brilliant time of 1:33.47 seconds. All Due Respect, Daddy's Honor, Kid Kate, and Believe in A.P. completed the order of finish.

A daughter of Awesome of Course out of the Gone West mare Precious Feather, Awesome Feather has now compiled a perfect record of ten victories from ten starts, with earnings of $1,912,746. Trained by Chad Brown and owned by Stronach Stables, she was awarded the Eclipse award for champion 2yo filly of 2010 following five stakes victories, including the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I).

Awesome Feather is being pointed toward a start in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (gr. I) on November 2nd at Santa Anita Park.

-Keelerman

Awesome Feather to return in Nasty Storm Stakes

2010 Eclipse champion 2yo filly Awesome Feather, undefeated in ten starts but unraced since late January, is scheduled to return to the races on Thursday in the $85,000 Nasty Storm Stakes at Belmont Park.

Trained by Chad Brown and owned by Stronach Stables, Awesome Feather earned her Eclipse award following a perfect 6-for-6 campaign that saw her win five stakes races, including the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) at Churchill Downs. Following an abbreviated three-year-old campaign that saw her win both of her starts, she began 2012 with a dominating victory in the Florida Sunshine Millions Distaff Stakes, but went to the sidelines shortly thereafter with a minor injury. This shall be her first start since then, and while a victory is not guaranteed given her lengthy layoff, she has been training well for her return and should have every opportunity to extend her record to a perfect 10-for-10.

Her primary opposition may come from Cash for Clunkers, a four-year-old daughter of Tiznow that finished a strong second in the Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I) here at Belmont Park two starts back. Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. should also have some serious contenders, as he has entered a total of four horses, including 2010 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (gr. II) winner Acting Happy and the two-time grade I-placed filly All Due Respect.

1 Tiz the Argument
2 Daddy's Honor
3 Acting Happy
4 Believe in A.P.
5 All Due Respect
6 Kid Kate
7 Awesome Feather
8 Withgreatpleasure
9 Cash for Clunkers

-Keelerman