Country Grammer Could Give Baffert Eighth Awesome Again

After futilely chasing Flightline  in the TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) Sept. 3 at Del Mar, runner-up Country Grammer , third-place Royal Ship , and fourth-place Express Train  regroup in the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes (G1) Oct. 1 at Santa Anita Park.

The Awesome Again is part of the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" Series, providing paid, automatic entry into the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 5 at Keeneland. Accelerate   in 2018 is the last horse to win both races.

Although the 1 1/8-mile Awesome Again has the same top-level grade as the Pacific Classic, there is little doubt the Awesome Again—a stakes event the lightly raced Flightline is skipping—is an easier race.

There was certainly nothing easy about the Pacific Classic, as Flightline, now the world's top-rated horse, took charge entering the backstretch of the two-turn race and lengthened his advantage by 10 lengths, then 13 lengths, and finally 19 1/4 lengths by the finish. Country Grammer, Royal Ship, and Express Train were left gassed trying to keep up with a rival who sped 1 1/4 miles in 1:59.28.

Commonwealth Thoroughbreds, WinStar Farm, and Zedan Racing Stables' Country Grammer still tried to the wire. Neck and neck late on the second turn with Royal Ship, whose rally flattened out under Mike Smith, Country Grammer continued onward to finish seven lengths clear of that rival.

Royal Ship "is doing great and Smith certainly suits him," said Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, a four-time Awesome Again winner.

Express Train finished a half-length behind Royal Ship with a wide journey.

"He didn't have the best of trips, and that was his comeback race," said Express Train's trainer, John Shirreffs.

"That was a tough race to come back in going a mile and a quarter," he added.

Express Train is 7-5-3 over his 19-race career with earnings of more than $1.4 million.

All three older horses have won major stakes races this year. Country Grammer is an $11 million earner who took the Dubai World Cup Sponsored By Emirates Airline (G1) in March; Royal Ship captured both the John Shear Mile Stakes and San Diego Handicap (G2); and Express Train took the Santa Anita Handicap Presented by Yaamava' Resort & Casino (G1) and San Pasqual Stakes (G2) during the early part of the year.

Country Grammer, in the third start of his current form cycle for trainer Bob Baffert, ran second to Royal Ship following a break in the San Diego after the Dubai World Cup. In February, the 5-year-old son of Tonalist   ran second in the Saudi Cup (G1).

He is one of four Awesome Again entrants for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, a seven-time winner of the race. Baffert won it most recently in 2021 with Zedan Racing Stables' Medina Spirit , who died of a suspected heart attack when training at Santa Anita last winter.

Baffert's other Awesome Again entrants are Azul Coast , 3-year-old High Connection , and Defunded .

Saturday's field is rounded out by 2021 Pacific Classic winner Tripoli  and Slow Down Andy , a versatile 3-year-old who captured the Caesars Sportsbook Del Mar Derby (G2T) on grass in his last start.

Entries: Awesome Again S. (G1)

Santa Anita Park, Saturday, October 01, 2022, Race 8

• Grade I
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $300,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 4:08 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Azul Coast (KY)	Hector Isaac Berrios	124	Bob Baffert	20/1
2	2Royal Ship (BRZ)	Mike E. Smith	124	Richard E. Mandella	3/1
3	3High Connection (KY)	Abel Cedillo	118	Bob Baffert	12/1
4	4Country Grammer (KY)	Juan J. Hernandez	124	Bob Baffert	8/5
5	5Tripoli (KY)	Ramon A. Vazquez	122	John W. Sadler	8/1
6	6Defunded (KY)	Edwin A. Maldonado	122	Bob Baffert	6/1
7	7Express Train (KY)	Victor Espinoza	124	John A. Shirreffs	7/2
8	8Slow Down Andy (CA)	Mario Gutierrez	120	Doug F. O'Neill	12/1