Awesome Banner Dominates in Swale
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Lauren King
Awesome Banner is in control of the Swale Stakes
Jacks or Better Farm's homebred Awesome Banner led from the start in the $150,000 Swale Stakes (gr. II) and opened up in the stretch to win by about five lengths Jan. 30 at Gulfstream Park and remain unbeaten.
The son of Awesome of Course finished seven furlongs in 1:21.81 with Jose Caraballo riding for trainer Stanley Gold. Economic Model unleashed a rally to take second after stalking from fourth early and Richie the Bull finished evenly for third.
Racing exclusively at Gulfstream, Awesome Banner won his only start as a juvenile—a June 5 maiden race at 4 1/2 furlongs—by 9 3/4 lengths in track-record time. He came back Jan. 2 after seven months away from the races and took his 2016 debut with a 4 3/4-length score in the six-furlong Hutcheson (gr. III).
Florida-bred Awesome Banner is out of the Zamindar mare Miranda Stands.
Awesome Banner paid $3.80, $2.60, and $2.10, Economic Model returned $3.60 and $2.40, and Richie the Bull paid $2.60 to show.