Smooth Roller dominates foes in G1 Awesome Again

Smooth Roller made his Graded Stakes debut a winning one with a powerful victory in the G1 Awesome Again at Santa Anita.

It was the third win in just four lifetime starts for the four-year-old gelding by Hard Spun, who was good fourth last time out in the Harry Brubaker Stakes at Del Mar Aug. 26.

Smooth Roller broke alertly and sat in second, just behind Bayern, through the early stages of the race. As the field hit the top of the stretch, Smooth Roller took command, and pulled away to win by five-and-one-quarter lengths.

Smooth Roller is out of Catch the Moment, an unraced daughter of Unbridled. Bred in Kentucky by John R. Cummins, Smooth Roller was purchased for $160,000 at the 2012 Keeneland September Yearling sale.

Hard Spun is the sire of seven other Group or Graded winners this year, including G1 winners Hard Not To Like and Hard Aces. Smooth Roller becomes Hard Spun’s 16th lifetime Group or Graded winner and his 32nd Group or Graded Stakes horse.