Daniel Ljoka’s Awesome Son
knows one way to run, and that’s go-go-go from the get-go. And in Sunday’s
$75,000 Longfellow Stakes, trainer Tim Kelly is hoping his 4-year-old carries
that speed to the wire.
Awesome Son made his 2011
debut in the Decathlon Stakes here opening day, May 14, and in his first start
in 10 months, went to the front as expected, but then tired through the stretch
to be third, as if he needed the start.
“Sometimes even when you
think you have them tight enough,” Kelly said, “they need a little more. He got
a little tired that day, but he came out of the race good, and he’s doing super
now. This looks like a good spot.”
The Pure Precision gelding
finished more than seven lengths behind This Ones for Phil, who ran six
furlongs in 1:09 3/5, and Wildcat Brief, two accomplished sprinters.
“He ran against monsters that
day,” Kelly said. “He ran his eyeballs out, but they were better. I don’t see
any horses like that in here.”
The six-furlong Longfellow
drew a field of eight, including two horses who are recent winners in Sean
Avery and Hillswick, and two making their seasonal debut in He’s So Chic and
Super Robusto.
Awesome Son, who has won half
of his eight lifetime starts, breaks from Post 2 with Francisco Maysonett
aboard. And for a horse with his style, the start is most important.
“They key to him running well
is a good break,” Kelly said. “He has to get out and go … and keep on going.”