2019 Awesome Again Stakes Contenders & Odds
America's current top rated older horse, McKinzie, and rising star Higher Power are set to square off in Saturday's Grade I, $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes, which has attracted a field of six 3-year-olds and up at a mile and one eighth.
A Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" Challenge Race qualifier, the winner will earn a fees-paid berth into the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park on Nov. 2.
A recent winner of the Grade I Whitney Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 3, McKinzie, who is trained by Bob Baffert, has never been better and looms a short priced favorite. Trained by John Sadler, Higher Power exits the best race of his career, a 5 ¼ length win in the Grade I Pacific Classic at Del Mar Aug. 17.
2019 Awesome Again Stakes Odds & Entries
Race 10 at Santa Anita on Saturday, September 28 - Post 8:13 PM
| Entry | Horse | ML Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Higher Power | 2-1 | Flavien Prat 125 Lbs |
John Sadler |
| 2 | Draft Pick | 8-1 | Joseph Talamo 121 Lbs |
Peter Eurton |
| 3 | Seeking the Soul | 4-1 | Brian Hernandez, Jr. 123 Lbs |
Dallas Stewart |
| 4 | McKinzie | 4-5 | Mike Smith 125 Lbs |
Bob Baffert |
| 5 | Mongolian Groom | 15-1 | Abel Cedillo 121 Lbs |
Enebish Ganbat |
| 6 | Isotherm | 30-1 | Geovanni Franco 121 Lbs |
Philip D'Amato |
U.S. Legal Online Wagering
MCKINZIE
The early favorite for the Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 2, this 4-year-old colt by Street Sense pressed the pace en route to an emphatic 1 ¾ length victory in the Grade I Whitney, a race in which he earned an Awesome Again best last-out Beyer Speed figure of 111.
A close second two starts back as the 8-5 favorite in the Grade I Met Mile at Belmont, he's won two out of his last three starts and will be bidding for his fifth Grade I victory in what will be his 13th career start.
Owner: Mike Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul Weitman | Trainer: Bob Baffert
HIGHER POWER
Originally based in the Midwest through his first nine starts, this 4-year-old colt by Medaglia d'Oro made his fourth start with Sadler in the Grade I Pacific Classic Aug. 17 and responded with an eye-catching performance that has thrust him into the position of Classic hopeful. Ridden for the first time by Flavien Prat, Higher Power, in garnering his first stakes victory, earned a lofty 107 Beyer in the process.
Owner: Hronis Racing LLC | Trainer: John Sadler
DRAFT PICK
Under the radar at 13-1, this 4-year-old Candy Ride colt was attentive to the pace while fifth early in the Pacific Classic and out-gamed Mongolian Groom late to run second, beaten 5 ¼ lengths by Higher Power in the Pacific Classic. With Joe Talamo riding him back, Draft Pick rates an upset chance on Saturday.
Owner: C R K Stable LLC | Trainer: Peter Eurton
