Veteran Awesome Gem captures Longacres Mile

West Point Thoroughbred's AWESOME GEM (Awesome Again) has been around the

block a few times, including a foray to Emerald Downs in 2009 for a run in the

Longacres Mile S. (G3). The chestnut finished second by three parts of a

length on that occasion, but on Sunday returned to the Auburn, Washington, venue

for another go at the one-mile contest. This time, though, Awesome Gem would not

be denied, pulling out the 1 1/2-length victory for trainer Craig Dollase.

Local hero Noosa Beach (Harbor the Gold) was billed as the horse to beat in

the Longacres Mile and proceeded to state his case when taking command soon

after the start despite breaking from the 10 post. The dark bay gelding brought

a seven-race win streak into the race and posted fractions of :23 4/5, :46 3/5

and 1:10 1/5. Slew the Man (Slewdledo) kept in close attendance to his outside,

while Posse Power (Posse) and Crew Leader (Pulpit) took up running in the second

flight just behind.

All the while, jockey David Flores kept Awesome Gem in a good striking

position in fifth. As Noosa Beach neared the turn, Flores gave the signal and

Awesome Gem took off, circling four wide around the bend. Noosa Beach tried to

give battle, but Awesome Gem was going too well for his rival, drawing off to be

1 1/2 lengths clear on the line while stopping the clock in 1:34 4/5 over the

fast dirt.

Awesome Gem was sent off the 8-5 favorite to Noosa Beach's 9-5 second choice,

paying $5.20, $3 and $2.80. Noosa Beach was attempting to the take the next leg

of the Longacres Mile series at Emerald, having already captured the Governor's

H., Budweiser H. and Mt. Rainier H. in his past three, but was unable to mount a

title defense after taking last year's running by 1 1/2 lengths. He easily held

Posse Power to third by two lengths, with Crew Leader filling out the top four.

Wasserman (Cahill Road), the 2008 Longacres Mile winner, came next, followed

by J P Jammer (Old Topper), Winning Machine (Toccet), 2009 victor Assessment

(Jump Start), Slew the Man, Honour the Deputy (Honour and Glory) and Saratoga

Boot (Storm Boot). St Liams Halo (Saint Liam) was withdrawn.

Awesome Gem has built up quite the resume during his six seasons of

competition. In addition to Sunday's score the eight-year-old gelding has

captured the 2010 Hollywood Gold Cup (G1), 2009 Hawthorne Gold Cup (G2), 2007

San Fernando S. (G2) and this year's Lone Star Park H. (G3). His 15 stakes

placings include the likes of the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), Pacific Classic

(G1), Goodwood S. (G1) and Eddie Read H. (G1).

The popular chestnut is still competing at the top level, entering the

Longacres Mile off a fifth while going for a title defense in the Hollywood Gold

Cup, and was second in the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker H. (G3) prior to that. His

career line reads 46-9-14-5 and he's now banked $2,688,270 with the winner's

share of Sunday's $200,000 purse.

Bred in Kentucky by Runnymede Farm, Catesby Clay and Peter Callahan, Awesome

Gem brought $150,000 as a Barretts March two-year-old in 2005. He was produced

from the unraced Piano (Pentelicus), who is a half-sister to multiple Grade 2

queen J J'sdream (Glitterman). Piano has also produced an unnamed yearling colt

by Scat Daddy and a 2011 filly by More Than Ready.

Awesome Gem's third dam, Royal Ties (Distinctive), produced the Grade

2-winning On to Glory full siblings Meritocrat and On to Royalty, the latter the

dam of 1996 Preakness (G1) winner Louis Quatorze (Sovereign Dancer) and 1997

Gazelle H. (G1) winner Royal Indy (A.P. Indy). This is also the family of Grade

1 winner Wildcat Heir and his multiple Grade 3-winning full sister Forest

Heiress, both by Forest Wildcat.