After more than a year off, Sean Avery came roaring
back to win the Affiliate Stakes on September 8 at Belmont, and now
will line up Saturday in the Grade 1, $400,000 Vosburgh Invitational as
part of the “Super Saturday” card.
“The horse has got a ton of heart, and he’ll give you 110
percent every time you lead him over,” trainer Allen Iwinski said of
the son of 1994 sprint champion Cherokee Run. “He couldn’t be training
any better, and he couldn’t be any sounder than he is now. The owners
set a goal to try to get him to the Breeders’ Cup.”
Iwinski, who earned his first Grade 1 as a trainer when
he saddled Sean Avery to victory in the 2011 Alfred G. Vanderbilt,
shopped for weeks for a return spot before settling on the six-furlong
Affiliate. In the race, Sean Avery came from off the pace to put away
three other runners – including Vosburgh entrants Zero Rate Policy and
Royal Currier – to win by 2 ¼ lengths and earn a Beyer Speed Figure of
92.
Overall, Sean Avery is 7-1-2 from 11 career starts,
having won four of five starts in 2011 before being sidelined with a
tendon injury after the Vanderbilt.
While the Breeders’ Cup Sprint is the main goal, Iwinski is on edge and ready for the Vosburgh.
“When he won the Vanderbilt, it was my first Grade 1
win,” said the trainer, “and I was elated and it was so exciting, and
he’s come back as good as or better than he’s ever been. If he wins, it
will be the biggest purse I’ve ever won as a trainer. If he jumps up
to win the Vosburgh and comes back in good order, and we’re getting
ready to go to California, it will be another milestone just getting to
the Breeders’ Cup.”