Awesome Czech secures stakes win no. 2 in the Yaddo (Chelsea Durand)
Mary Eddy/NYRA Press Office
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Barry Schwartz’s New York homebred Awesome Czech notched her second career stakes victory in Friday’s $150,000 Yaddo presented by STIHL, a 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for state-bred fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by Horacio De Paz, the 4-year-old daughter of Mendelssohn entered from a local pacesetting allowance score on July 4 where she added blinkers for the first time in the afternoon. She utilized more patient tactics in the Yaddo, rallying from mid-pack to notch the half-length victory under regular rider Ricardo Santana, Jr.
“It seems like the blinkers put her forward and you were able to get that last kick out of her. Ricardo knows her now, too,” De Paz said. “She’s always been a nice filly.”
Awesome Czech emerged from post 2-of-10 with a slight stumble and settled in fourth along the inside as Being Betty and Spinning Colors sprinted to the front, but it was the latter who kicked clear to mark the opening quarter-mile in 23.32 seconds over the firm footing.
Awesome Czech ran up on the heels of Moonage Daydream in the turn, but settled again as Spinning Colors led a field that traveled two-by-two-by-two down the backstretch. The pair of Moonage Daydream and Being Betty followed the pacesetter just ahead of Silver Skillet and the rail-riding Awesome Czech, with She’s Our Tiz and Brocknardini following suit through the half-mile in 48.18.
“There was some speed in the race, so you didn’t know who was going to go,” De Paz explained. “Ricardo had intentions to be forward. If they gave it to him, he was going to take it and if they didn’t, he was going to tuck in and sit back. I left it in his hands. He’s riding great and he timed it perfect. She got a little rank down the backside with him and didn’t want to settle. I was worried about getting stuck and not having room to come out, but he worked out a trip at the quarter-pole.”
Awesome Czech found her way around Being Betty heading into the stretch as that foe gave chase and Moonage Daydream was asked for her best between rivals through three-quarters in 1:12.60. Awesome Czech edged clear of a stalling Being Betty down the center of the course and took dead aim at the embattled duo of Spinning Colors and Moonage Daydream, gaining with every stride to edge past in the final strides and cross the wire first in a final time of 1:41.41.
Moonage Daydream put her nose down over Spinning Colors to complete the exacta with multiple dirt graded stakes-placed millionaire Sterling Silver landing fourth. Brocknardini, Midnight Concerto, Being Betty, Silver Skillet, Bernt Again and She’s Our Tiz completed the order of finish.
Firsttimeinforever and Bernietakescharge – who is entered in Saturday’s Grade 1 Personal Ensign here – were scratched, along with main track-only entrants Amanda’s Folly, Malu, Fast and Frisky and Krystalheir.
Santana, Jr., who is tied for third in the Spa riding standings, said De Paz’s confidence makes his job easier.
“I love to ride for Horacio. He is really easy to deal with,” Santana, Jr. said. “She is a really tricky filly to ride. Horacio, he never tells me how to ride a horse because we have a lot of good confidence. Today, I told Horacio, ‘I think I have a different plan than last time. I want to take her back today because I think there’s plenty of speed and I’m just going to wait with her.’ Today, she proved she can be on the lead, she can come from behind, and she is a really decent filly.”
De Paz added he will be patient in choosing Awesome Czech’s next outing.
“We’ll see how she comes out of this,” De Paz said. “New York-bred company has good purses. I always thought she was an open-company horse. We tried the Virginia Oaks last year and didn’t get the trip that we wanted. Options are open for her.”
Flavien Prat, aboard the Jorge Abreu-trained multiple stakes-winner Moonage Daydream, said his charge gave an admirable effort in her first start off a nearly 10-month layoff.
“I was behind who I thought was a good horse [Spinning Colors] and she gave me a good run,” Prat said. “That was after a long layoff, so hopefully she can improve next race. She is always forwardly placed.”
Awesome Czech adds to previous stakes success in the Suzie O’Cain over course and distance last August. She banked $82,500 in victory while improving her record to 16-5-3-2 and returning $13.40 on a $2 win ticket.
Live racing resumes Saturday at Saratoga with a 14-race card headlined by the Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers [Race 13, approx. 6:14 p.m. Eastern]. The Travers is one of five Grade 1s scheduled for Saturday’s lucrative program, including the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial in Race 10 and three top-level Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” qualifiers with the Forego [Dirt Mile] in Race 12, Resorts World Casino Ballerina [Filly and Mare Sprint] in Race 11 and the Personal Ensign [Distaff] in Race 9. The card is supported by the Grade 2, $400,000 Lake Placid in Race 7.
