by Kim French, USTA Internet News Editor

Kim French

Columbus, OH — Although she has only visited the winner’s circle on three occasions in her 17-race career, Awash has banked $181,004 which demonstrates she does possess ability. After a strong showing in her last engagement (third in the $165,700 Mistletoe Shalee), her connections feel her performance in the first of two divisions of the $125,950 Adioo Volo on Saturday (July 29) at The Meadows on the Adios undercard will hopefully yield the statement victory they have been patiently waiting for.

“It looked like the list of eligibles was going to come up a little light for the Mistletoe Shalee, so I took a chance putting her in there, but after her race before that at Pocono (a win in a lifetime best 1:51.4) I felt she belonged,” said Tony Alagna, her conditioner. “And I was right. Her odds might have looked to be long on paper but she raced absolutely tremendous and we could not have been more pleased.”

Owned by Bradley Grant, Awash is a 3-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Apogee Hanover and was purchased for $130,000 at the 2015 Standardbred Horse Sale.

One of her two victories as a 2-year-old was a $74,000 division of the Bluegrass Stakes at Red Mile and in order to collect her second Grand Circuit triumph, the filly must best favorite Rosemary Rose (post two, Mike Wilder, 2-1) as well as New Jersey Sire Stakes leg winner Colorful Jasmine (post five, Corey Callahan, 9-2).

Nigel Soult photo

Awash enters the Adioo Volo with $181,004 in career earnings.

Awash will commence her journey around the five-eighths oval from post six and will have the services of Brett Miller. The duo is the second selection on the morning line at 4-1 in the field of eight.

“She is rounding into form and we are looking forward to how she races in the Adioo Volo,” Alagna said. “We are expecting her to do very well.”

This filly has been held in high regard ever since she walked through the sales ring and with good reason. Awash is the first foal from a mare that captured the $294,000 Ontario Sire Stakes Super Final as a 2-year-old and amassed $633,613 for owner Roger Hammer. Hammer sold the mare to Fair Winds Stable at the conclusion of her racing career in 2013.

“Amy Lee Cruise was so thrilled when we bought this filly,” Alagna said. “She was Apogee Hanover’s groom when she was in Erv Miller’s stable and just loved that mare. It was one her favorite horses, if not the favorite, so we gave her this filly and she has been with her since day one; she thinks the world of her.”

Her groom was not the only one that Awash elicited emotions from, as Alagna realized her potential while training her down and qualifying her as a 2-year-old. The filly rewarded the faith that was placed in her by compiling a record of 11-2-3-2 and earning $144,878.

“She was super training and in qualifying,” Alagna said. “But when it came time to race, it took her some time to figure it out. She really came around later in the summer and was very good at the end of the year, especially in Kentucky. By the time the Breeders Crown came around she was tired and had enough (finishing seventh in her Crown elimination). It was a 2-year-old thing, because it can be a long season for them, so we put her away for the winter and when we brought her back she was in great shape.”

Awash kicked off her sophomore campaign with second place finishes in her first two races and was then sixth in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action. The filly rebounded from that effort with a strong third at Yonkers Raceway while taking on older rivals and then had her picture taken at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on July 4 in a $14,000 non-winners event.

That mile persuaded Alagna to place her in the Mistletoe Shalee, which proved to be a sage choice, as even though Awash could not catch Agent Q and Idyllic Beach, she powered home with a :26.4 last quarter from fifth place at the three-quarter marker to finish a very stout third.

“This filly is following the same pattern as she did last year,” said Alagna. “It takes her a couple races to get going and figure things out. Her race at Pocono showed me she was starting to get ready and the Mistletoe Shalee really demonstrated that. This filly is flying a little under the radar and that’s okay. But she is staked to all the big races for the rest of the year and we really think she will pop up to win one of those. We’ll see what happens on Saturday and the rest of the year, but we do believe she is rounding into form now.”

To view the full fields with post positions, odds, trainers and drivers for the entire Adios Day card, please click here.