39 Facts About Awesome Again

Awesome Again was a Canadian Thoroughbred racehorse and stallion.

Awesome Again was undefeated at age four, scoring his biggest win in the Breeders' Cup Classic after winning the Stephen Foster Handicap, Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap, Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap and Whitney Handicap.

Awesome Again was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2001.

Awesome Again was a bay horse, bred by Frank Stronach of Newmarket, Ontario, and foaled in Canada.

Awesome Again was sired by Deputy Minister, who was the Canadian Horse of the Year as a two-year-old in 1981 and became the leading sire in North America in 1997 and 1998.

Awesome Again was originally trained by David Hofmans, then was switched to Patrick B Byrne's stable in 1998.

At age three in 1997, Awesome Again won Canada's most prestigious race, the Queen's Plate.

Awesome Again's 1997 racing season ended after he suffered a back injury while finishing fifth in the Super Derby.

In 1998, Awesome Again went undefeated in six starts, in the process defeating Champions Silver Charm and Skip Away.

Awesome Again came from far back to win over one of the best-ever fields assembled in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Awesome Again made his first start on May 25,1997, in a maiden special weight at Hollywood Park over seven furlongs.

Awesome Again duelled for the early lead with Reel Wild and hung on to finish third behind the late closing One Man Army.

Awesome Again again duelled for the early lead, then started to draw away in the stretch to win by six lengths.

Awesome Again was then shipped north to Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario for the Queen's Plate.

Awesome Again took the lead entering the stretch but ducked inside, apparently distracted by the crowd noise.

Awesome Again went off as the second choice to Behrens, who was undefeated in three starts.

Awesome Again settled near the back of the field and was still in seventh after three-quarters of a mile.

Awesome Again rated behind the early leaders and made his move with Deputy Commander on the final turn.

Awesome Again finished fifth in his final start of the year, the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs.

Awesome Again made his four-year-old debut on May 22,1998, in an allowance race at Churchill Downs.

Awesome Again rated close to Silver Charm behind the early pace set by Robb.

Awesome Again closed ground steadily down the stretch, as both horses started to drift.

Awesome Again drew clear in the final strides to win by a length, with Silver Charm more than five lengths ahead of the third-place finisher.

Tale of the Cat opened a one length lead on the final turn but Awesome Again responded and took the lead back in mid-stretch, then continued to draw away to win by three lengths.

Awesome Again stalked the early pace set by Early Warning, while Day kept an eye on Concerto, the second betting choice carrying just 114 pounds.

Awesome Again pressed the early pace set by Muchacho Fino, then moved to the lead around the final turn.

Awesome Again broke slowly and settled into eighth place behind a moderate early pace set by Coronado's Quest.

Awesome Again swung wide on the final turn and started to make up ground but was still in seventh place with a quarter-mile remaining, caught up in traffic.

Awesome Again finished strongly to win by three-quarters of a length over Silver Charm.

Awesome Again was however given a special Sovereign Award for his achievements.

Awesome Again retired as the leading Canadian-bred money earner of all-time.

Awesome Again became the first Breeders' Cup Classic winner to sire a winner of that race when Ghostzapper won the Classic in 2004.

Awesome Again was the sire of Round Pond, winner of the 2006 Breeders' Cup Distaff.

In 2007, Awesome Again became the first Breeders' Cup winner to sire four Breeders' Cup winners when Adena Springs homebred Ginger Punch won the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Monmouth Park.

Awesome Again sired Game On Dude, three-time winner of the Santa Anita Handicap, the Goodwood Stakes, and the Hollywood Gold Cup.

Awesome Again was retired from stud duties in 2019, at which time he had sired 66 black-type winners, including 14 Grade I winners.

Awesome Again was an influential broodmare sire; at the time of his retirement, his daughters had produced eight champions, including Breeders' Cup Classic winner Accelerate.

Awesome Again died on December 15,2020, at the age of 26 at Old Friends.

Awesome Again was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2001.