Awesome Gem's patented closing punch fell short by a dimishing 3/4-length in the $300,000 Long Acres Mile Handicap (G3), and the gallant gelding finished second for the second straight time in graded company. He had spotted the field more than 10 lengths in the one-mile event on Emerald Downs' conventional dirt oval after chasing fractions of :44 and 1:07.3. Final time was a blistering 1:33.2.
On July 25th, Awesome Gem made a furious rally in late stretch in Del Mar's Grade I, $350,000 Eddie Read Handicap. His deep closing style was a length shy of the winner, however, as he settled for second place against a talented field.
The 6-year-old gelded son of Awesome Again was bred by Runnymede Farm and Peter Callahan and has been a graded stakes campaigner for three solid years with a 27-5-11-3 and $1,413,682 record.
TIZBIG, bred by Runnymede Farm, added to his success of 2008 with a runner-up finish in Gulfstream Park's $100,000 Skip Away Stakes (G3). The 4-year-old colt by leading sire Tiznow has placed twice in graded company.
Recap for 2008:
For the fifth time in the past eight years, Runnymede Farm has produced a Grade I performer, quite an accomplishment from a farm that averages some 20 foals per year!
The latest Runnymede-bred to earn a Grade I victory is DIVINE PARK, winner of the 2008 Met Mile Handicap (GI) at Belmont Park. This win came on the heels of his easy tally in the GIII Westchester Handicap, and clearly places the four-year-old colt toward the top of the handicap ranks. Divine Park won 3-of-4 starts in 2007 and is 3-for-4 in 2008 thus far.
Runnymede-bred AWESOME GEM is another graded stakes horse in 2008, earning a solid third-place effort in the San Antonio Handicap (GII) after freshening up from his gallant third in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The other Grade I performers of this decade are AGNES DIGITAL, MARLYBONE, and PALACE EPISODE.
Another graded stakes performer of 2008 is TIZBIG. Making his stakes debut, the Runnymede Farm-bred 3-year-old chased front-running favorite Mint Lane to the wire, finishing an excellent second in Belmont Park’s Grade II Dwyer Stakes. His runner-up effort in the famed race more than doubled his earnings to $73,114 with a 10-1-2-2 record.
Recap: article of 2007 stakes winners
Runnymede Farm continues in 2007 its annual parade of stakes winners, led by the undefeated three-year-old DIVINE PARK. Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, the Runnymede-bred colt by Chester House has dominated his three starts, highlighted by his 3 ¼-length victory in the prestigious Grade 3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct.
On the West Coast, AWESOME GEM has become a top player in the handicap division this year with a determined win in the Grade 2 San Fernando Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita and three consecutive close seconds in the Grade I Goodwood Stakes, the Grade I Pacific Classic and the Grade II San Diego Handicap at Del Mar. Bred by Runnymede Farm and Peter Callahan, this four-year-old gelding by Awesome Again has finished first or second in 11 of his 13 starts for trainer Craig Dollase.
Another outstanding 2007 stakes winner is MERIBEL, whom Runnymede Farm bred, owns and races in partnership with Arthur Hancock. This talented Peaks and Valleys filly has won on dirt and turf, including back-to-back Belmont Park stakes, the Foresta and Steal a Kiss Stakes. Also among her string of wins is last fall’s Grade 3 Valley View Stakes at Keeneland and the Dynasty Stakes at Saratoga. In late July, she rallied from dead-last to within 1 ¾ lengths of winning Saratoga’s prestigious $500,000 Grade 1 Diana Stakes. And less than a month later, Meribel earned a third-place finish to champion Wait A While in Saratoga's Grade II Ballston Spa Handicap. In mid-September, Meribel closed late to grab third in Woodbine's Grade 2 Canadian Stakes. Clearly a talent, MERIBEL has banked more than $410,000 thus far under the tutelage of Christophe Clement.
Runnymede Farm also bred LOOSE LEAF, the commanding 3 ¾-length winner of Saratoga’s $82,000 Lemon Drop Kid Stakes in August. The Notebook colt from Ken McPeek’s barn also placed in the Remington Park MEC Mile and the Grand Canyon Handicap as a juvenile and finished fourth in the Grade III Northern Dancer Handicap. He is now a possible starter for the Grade I Travers Stakes on August 25th.
KARAGEM, a handsome two-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid, won the Grade II Summer Stakes in June. He is the first foal for the mare Sacre Coeur, by Saint Ballado.
SMOKE MOUNTAIN, a four-year-old by Smoke Glacken, won the Ford Express Stakes at the spring Lone Star meet.
Group I winner PALACE EPISODE finished well in just his third North American start to be third in the Grade II Kelso Stakes at Belmont in late September.
