Mongolian Stable’s Mongolian Groom led the field at every point of call Sept. 28 and rolled to a clean upset victory in the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park.
Sent off at odds of 25-1, the gelded son of Hightail completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.27 under jockey Abel Cedillo. Favored McKinzie issued a late challenge in the stretch but did not have enough in reserve to catch the victor and took second. Higher Power, who stumbled coming out of the gate, recovered to take third.
Mongolian Stable’s Mongolian Groom led the field at every point of call Sept. 28 and rolled to a clean upset victory in the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park.
Sent off at odds of 25-1, the gelded son of Hightail completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.27 under jockey Abel Cedillo. Favored McKinzie issued a late challenge in the stretch but did not have enough in reserve to catch the victor and took second. Higher Power, who stumbled coming out of the gate, recovered to take third.
The Awesome Again marked the first stakes win for Mongolian Groom, who was bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm. He entered Saturday’s race off a fifth-place finish in the Woodward Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) Aug. 31 at Saratoga Race Course.
Mongolian Groom earned an automatic berth in the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita. He is trained by Enebish Ganbat.