Awesome Slew Pointed to Haskell at Monmouth
Description:
Live Oak Plantation's stakes-placed Awesome Slew, who is based at Monmouth Park this summer, is being aimed for the Betfair.com Haskell Invitational (gr. I) July 31. The probable field for the $1 million race includes Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Nyquist.
"He has been working well since his last race," trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. said. "I expect him to run his best race yet in his next start."
The 3-year-old homebred colt by Awesome Again out of the Seeking the Gold mare Slewfoundmoney is coming off a third-place finish in his first try around two turns in the Pegasus Stakes (gr. III) June 19 at Monmouth.
Awesome Slew has made three of his four career starts on Monmouth's main track, including breaking his maiden at first asking last year going five furlongs. He made his second and last start as a 2-year-old in the Sanford Stakes (gr. III) at Saratoga Race Course, where he broke poorly from his inside post and stormed late to finish fourth by two lengths.
Awesome Slew returned to the races in 2016 off a nearly 10-month layoff and grabbed a $50,000 allowance optional-claiming event May 21 at Momouth from sitting just off the early pace and taking the lead at the top of the stretch en route to a three-length victory in the six-furlong event.
Awesome Slew has worked twice since the Pegasus, both at Monmouth. The latest came July 11, when he went one mile on a fast track in 1:43 3/5.
Along with Nyquist, two other Kentucky Derby starters, Brody's Cause and Gun Runner, have been confirmed for the Haskell for their next starts. The race is a Breeders' Cup "Win & You're In" event for the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) and will be telecast live on NBC.