Awesome Act departs England for Gotham

AWESOME ACT (Awesome Again) is scheduled to arrive in New York early

Wednesday morning for his engagement in Saturday's $250,000 Gotham S. (G3). The

well-regarded colt left trainer Jeremy Noseda's grounds in Newmarket, England,

on Tuesday, embarking on what his connections hope will be the first step toward

a berth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 1.

"Awesome Act's performance in the Gotham is the key to how we move forward,"

Noseda explained.

A fast-finishing fourth when making his U.S. debut in the Breeders' Cup

Juvenile Turf (G2), Awesome Act was scheduled to travel back to America last

week before being delayed by bad weather. He won't have much time to acclimate

at Aqueduct.

"He had an easy breeze this morning and I'm hopeful this will set him

straight as due to quarantine restrictions and his late arrival he will be

unable to train prior to the race," Noseda said.

Julien Leparoux will pick up the mount in the 1 1/16-mile Gotham, which will

serve as Awesome Act's dirt debut. The chestnut broke his maiden at Goodwood

last October before recording a troubled ninth in the Dewhurst S. (Eng-G1) at

Newmarket. If all goes well on Saturday, he's expected to receive his final

Kentucky Derby prep in the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G1) on April 3.