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Gem is Awesome in San Fernando West Point Thoroughbreds et al's AWESOME GEM (Awesome Again) came with a furious run down the middle of the stretch in Saturday's $200,000 San Fernando Breeders' Cup S. (G2), overtaking Midnight Lute (Real Quiet) a few strides before the line to record the nose victory. With Tyler Baze aboard, the Craig Dollase-trained four-year-old was sent off the 9-1 fifth pick and returned $20, $6.60 and $3.60 while keying the $37.10 exacta ($1), $155.40 trifecta ($1) and $439.80 superfecta ($1) (3-9-8-6). Objective (El Corredor) used his inside 2 post to get in front when the gates opened, leading through splits of :23 1/5 and :47 while pressed by Halo Steven (Halo's Image) and Brother Derek (Benchmark) to his outside. Nearing the final turn, those two inched up and overtook the pacesetter, but suddenly found Midnight Lute ranging up to their outside. Exiting the turn, it was Midnight Lute who looked a winner, drifting a bit toward the inside but holding sway over Brother Derek. All the while, Awesome Gem was biding his time in midpack. Circling a rival around the turn, the chestnut came wide and began his rally, powering down the stretch and taking the win to earn his first black-type victory, stopping the teletimer in 1:41 4/5 for 1 1/16 miles. Midnight Lute held second by 1 1/4 lengths to pay $4.20 and $2.60 at nearly 5-2. Brother Derek, the 8-5 favorite, was a neck up on Arson Squad (Brahms) at the line, giving back $2.60. Following the top four under the line were Halo Steven, Spring at Last (Silver Deputy), Big Mistake (Broken Vow), Objective, Sensational Score (Wild Rush), Soul City Slew (Slew City Slew) and A. P. Xcellent (A.P. Indy). Hello Sunday (Fr) (Poliglote [GB]) was scratched. Bred in Kentucky by Runnymede Farm Inc., Catesby Clay & Peter Callahan, Awesome Gem made his stakes debut a length second in the Sir Beaufort S. (G3) prior to this one and now boasts a 7-3-3-0 record with $218,960 in lifetime earnings. Out of the unraced Pentelicus mare Piano, the chestnut gelding has an unraced three-year-old half-sister named Madeline's Music (Menifee) and an unnamed yearling half-brother by Forest Wildcat. Awesome Gem brought $150,000 as a Barretts March two-year-old in 2005.
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