AWESOME STRONG

2022 FLORIDA-BRED CHAMPION 2-YEAR-OLD COLT

On the strength of an undefeated season and an FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series sweep, Awesome Strong garnered a Florida-bred champion title. Awesome Strong indeed showed his potential strength as a racehorse, breaking his maiden by six lengths at first asking on May 6 at Gulfstream Park. He covered the four and a half furlongs in :51.62. Owner Elena Racing had purchased the colt for $30,000 from the consignment of Sue Vacek at the 2021 OBS October yearling sale.

Ten days after Awesome Strong’s impressive maiden-breaking win, Elena Racing consigned him to the 2022 Fasig-Tipton May Digital Sale. Purchased by Bill Childs, Awesome Strong was the sales topper at $500,000. Awesome Strong would race the remainder of his juvenile season for CSLR Racing Partners.

Awesome Strong made his first start for his new owners in the $100,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Dr. Fager on Aug. 6 at Gulfstream Park. His eyebrow-raising gate-to-wire victory proved that he had been a good purchase. Awesome Strong was much the best, winning by four-and-three-quarter lengths. Turbo was second with Cajun Hope nabbing third. Winning time for the six furlongs was 1:11 flat.

Next up was the $200,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Affirmed on Sept. 3 at Gulfstream Park. Breaking well, Awesome Strong stalked the pace three-wide and then took the lead near the three-eighths pole. After that, it was all the Awesome Strong show as he won by three lengths with Turbo second. Apocalypso was third. Winning time for the seven furlongs

Awesome Strong put himself into the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series history books in the $400,000 In Reality on Oct. 1 at Gulfstream Park. After a slower break than usual, Awesome Strong settled into fourth and was bumped entering the first turn. He held steady, tracking the pace fourwide between horses while improving his position. Under strong urging, Awesome Strong grabbed the lead near the quarter-pole and rallied to a hardearned victory. He bested Tigre by a length and a half with Knox getting the show money. Winning time for the mile and one-sixteenth was 1:47.09.

With the In Reality win, Awesome Strong became the 10th horse to sweep the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series’ colts and geldings division. He combined margin of victory was nine-and-a-quarter lengths. Trained by Jorge Delgado, Awesome Strong banked $458,000 on four wins in four starts.

Bred by John B. Penn, Awesome Strong is a 2020 chestnut colt by Ocala Stud stallion Awesome Slew out of Pleasant Ring, by Pleasant Tap. Awesome Strong was Awesome Slew’s leading earner on the season.