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Awesome Czech prevails in $125K Suzie O’Cain

by Keith McCalmont

Awesome Czech, one of four contenders saddled by Horacio De Paz in Wednesday’s $125,000 Suzie O’Cain, benefitted from a sharp pace set by stablemate Red Burgundy and proved much the best in the 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for New York-bred sophomore fillies, at Saratoga Race Course.

The Barry Schwartz homebred, a bay daughter of Mendelssohn expertly piloted by Manny Franco, secured her first career stakes win in her fourth attempt having entered from a similar stalk-and-pounce score in a state-bred optional-claiming event against elders on July 21 here.

“I had a good set up in front of me,” said Franco, who picked up his first stakes win of the meet. “They went fast and I was comfortable with where I was. As soon as I asked her to go, she was there so it was just a matter of time. She has a great turn of foot turning for home. She always tries for me. I have won three times on her now. I love her."

Red Burgundy dictated terms from the outermost post 8 through splits of 23.51 seconds and 47.75 over the firm footing with stablemate Downtown Channel in second, and Bossy Jeans in third as Awesome Czech rated kindly in fourth position.

Franco gave Awesome Czech her cue approaching the final turn and his charge responded, advancing with purpose as Red Burgundy held a three-length advantage at the stretch call. Red Burgundy’s strides shortened down the lane as Awesome Czech gobbled up ground and took command in mid-stretch to score by 2 3/4-lengths in final time of 1:42.94.

Brocknardini closed to earn place honors by a head over the De Paz-trained Munny Grab with Summer Whirl, Red Burgundy, Boxed Wine, Downtown Channel and Bossy Jeans completing the order of finish. Alette d’Oro and main-track only entrant Landed were scratched.

The victory marked the first stakes score and sixth win overall at the meet for De Paz, who said the filly touted herself with a solid half-mile breeze in 49 flat with Franco up August 8 over the Spa main track.

“She’s been training so good. He breezed her last week and she’s been doing really well,” De Paz said. “She’s in a routine now and she’s in the zone. I asked Manny if she wants more distance because the horse actually galloped out very well, so it’s something to play around with later. We’ll see.”

Prat said the George Weaver-trained stakes-winner Brocknardini showed determination to grab second.

“We had a good trip. The pace was pretty hot. I gave her a chance and she made a nice run," Prat said.

Awesome Czech graduated at third asking in September at Belmont at the Big A while making her turf debut. She followed with a trio of open-company stakes efforts there, landing fifth in the Listed Chelsey Flower in October, a close second in the Tepin in November and fourth in the Listed Wild Applause in her seasonal debut in June.

De Paz said the O’Cain score is the filly’s best performance since finishing a neck back of Memorialize in the one-mile Tepin.

“That open company race in the Tepin last year – that kind of impressed me that she fits open company,” De Paz said. “Hopefully, we can get her back into some open company stakes down the road.”

Awesome Czech, out of the Awesome Again mare Marvelous Martina, banked $68,750 in victory while improving her record to 8-3-2-0. She returned $9.70 for a $2 win bet.

Live racing resumes Thursday at Saratoga with the 10-race New York Thoroughbred Aftercare Day card, featuring the $125,000 Rick Violette in Race 7. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.

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