Awesome Strong, Lynx Seek Continued Gulfstream Success

CSLR Ranch Partners' Awesome Strong  has been so awesome and so strong in his two career starts that the undefeated son of Awesome Slew   has been installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the $200,000 Affirmed division of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Series Sept. 3 at Gulfstream Park.

The seven-furlong Affirmed co-headlines Saturday's program with the $200,000 Susan's Girl division, also at seven furlongs but for fillies. Both races are for 2-year-olds by accredited stallions standing in Florida.

"He's been impressive. He surprises me every day with his training. He is a very smart horse," trainer Jorge Delgado said of Awesome Strong. "He's ready for a race. It's hard for me to keep him settled because he wants to do so much every day. Thank God, we don't have any more breezes before the race. My job is just to keep him happy."

Awesome Strong offered an attention-grabbing debut May 6 at Gulfstream, breaking free of traffic on the turn to score going away by six lengths, completing 4 1/2 furlongs in a swift :51.62. CSLR Ranch Partners' Bill Childs and son Alex Childs were so impressed with the performance that they proceeded to purchase him for $500,000, agreeing to the steep price tag knowing the juvenile was eligible for the lucrative FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series.

They were hardly stricken by buyer's remorse when Awesome Strong came back to dominate Florida-sired rivals Aug. 5 in the $100,000 Dr. Fager division at Gulfstream. Away from the gate alertly, he set a solid pace along the backstretch and far turn before drawing clear in the stretch by 4 3/4 lengths under returning rider Miguel Vasquez in the six-furlong first leg of the Florida Sire Stakes. Although it was his first start for his new owners, it was his second start for trainer Jorge Delgado.

Turbo  and Cajun Hope , 2-3 in the Dr. Fager, lead the opposition, along with debut maiden winner Bouncer .

As the 10th race of 11 races on the card, Affirmed comes two races after the Susan's Girl, where trainer Carlos David will saddle Lynx , an Arindel homebred. She comes off a victory in the $100,000 Desert Vixen division, giving the undefeated daughter of Brethren   at least a chance to sweep the fillies division of the Florida Sire Stakes series.

"I'm really grateful to be given the opportunity with Arindel. It's been really good so far," David said. "Last year, we had good luck with Octane. He captured two of the races. With Lynx, we started her early, and she was able to win her maiden going five-eighths and we stretched her out and she improved last time."

Edgard Zayas has the return mount aboard Lynx, who has been installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite in a field of eight fillies, including stablemate Shiloh , a maiden rated at 10-1.

Second favorite in the race at 7-2 is Laurie Plesa and Glassman Racing's Time Passage  after a sharp maiden victory at Gulfstream Aug. 19, which followed a fifth in her debut June 9.

Time Passage, who is trained by Eddie Plesa Jr., gave freshman stallion Tunwoo   his first winner at stud, and is a half sister to Outfoxed , who captured the $200,000 Susan's Girl division and the $400,000 My Dear Girl division last year after sitting out the first leg of the Florida Sire Stakes series.