Despite entering the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) at 20-1 on the morning line, Awesome Chic is a filly that should not be overlooked. She has the class and the pedigree to pull an upset in the 1 1/8-mile race for the lilies at Churchill Downs.
“She drew a good post…I feel like all the planets are aligning,” owner Jose Acero of Aurora Springs Stable said of his filly’s post number three. “She breaks first, all alone. She has the speed, but there’s no reason to use her in the beginning. She’ll drop back and lay off the pace.”
After the post position draw April 29 at the Churchill Downs racing office, trainer Rafael Ramos said this of his filly: “She is doing very good, and yes, she likes Churchill Downs. She will be ready to give 120%.”
Awesome Chic will be ridden for the first time in the Oaks by Robby Albarado. He replaces regular rider Irwin Rosendo. “Rosendo is an excellent rider, but with a crowd of over 100,000 people and all the excitement, we thought we needed a rider with more experience. Robby breezed her two times and said she likes the track.”
The Florida-bred filly was purchased for $100,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in training in April 2007 from the consignment of Nick de Meric, agent. She was originally offered as a weanling at the 2005 Keeneland November mixed sale from the consignment of Summerfield, agent. Her breeder, Al Figliolina’s Westbury Stables, owned her at the time of the Keeneland auction.
A daughter of Awesome Again, Awesome Chic was produced from the A.P. Indy mare Trading. The Phipps family bred Trading, and not surprisingly, she comes from a family filled with black-type. Her dam, the winning Mr. Prospector mare Miner’s Game, is a full sister to multiple grade I winner and sire Seeking the Gold and is a half-sister to grade I winner Fast Play.
In addition to Trading, Miner’s Game is a the dam of Survivalist, who won the 2005 Gotham Stakes (gr. III) and finished second in the Wood Memorial (gr. I) that same year.
“She has the best pedigree to win the race,” said Acero. “I have my formula for picking good horses. It’s like making a soup: three cups pedigree, five cups conformation, seven cups character and ability, and 20 cups of good luck.
“We chose this filly for her pedigree. Rafael also suggested that her action in the tack show was good," he added..
Awesome Chic broke her maiden by 17 1/2 lengths at 2 in her debut race at Suffolk Downs and was subsequently named 2007 New England 2-year-old champion filly.
She began this year with a win in the Gasparilla Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs and then finished third in the Darley Ocala Breeders’ Sale Sprint Stakes. Most recently, she scored a 4 1/2-length win in the Florida Oaks, also at Tampa Bay Downs. She has earned $180,260.
