Horse Racing Picks: Awesome Again Stakes Prediction, Preview, and Odds (Sep 30)

• Awesome Again Stakes takes place at Santa Anita Park on Saturday
• The race is a ‘Win and You’re In’ for the Breeders’ Cup Classic

One of the standout races of the season at Santa Anita Park takes place on Saturday, as the G1 Awesome Again Stakes headlines the card. The race will see the field compete over 1 1/8 miles, and the winning runner will secure their spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

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Schedule and How To Watch

• When: Saturday, September 30, 2023 at 5:51 p.m. ET
• Where: Santa Anita Park, California
• How To Watch: FanDuel TV

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Awesome Again Stakes Odds

Horse	Odds
Defunded	+200
Slow Down Andy	+250
National Treasure	+400
Senor Buscador	+500
Stilleto Boy	+600
Skinner	+800
Piroli	+1200
Bye Bye Bobby	+1500
Celestial Moon	+3000

Latest odds taken from an offshore sportsbook

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Race Preview

The Awesome Again Stakes has been a key trial ahead of the Breeders’ Cup Classic throughout recent history, with some standout winners winning the Grade 1 at Santa Anita. Among those, including Accelerate, California Chrome, and Awesome Again. This year’s race will also take a heightened importance this year, with the 2023 Breeders’ Cup being staged at Santa Anita.

#6 DEFUNDED takes them gate to wire in the G1 Awesome Again @santaanitapark! pic.twitter.com/7SOAe38V9O

— FanDuel Racing (Formerly TVG) (@FanDuel_Racing) October 1, 2022

Defunded knows what it takes to win this race, having landed victory for Bob Baffert in the Awesome Again 12 months ago. The five-year-old will relish being back at Santa Anita, having previously won the G1 Hollywood Gold Cup and G2 Californian Stakes at the track this year. However, a response will be needed after he could only finish sixth in the G1 Pacific Classic at the start of the month.

READ MORE: Canelo Alvarez vs Jermell Charlo Prediction, Preview, and Odds (Sept 30)

NATIONAL TREASURE WINS THE PREAKNESS STAKES! #Preakness148 pic.twitter.com/N5jV4GnQMQ

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) May 20, 2023

Slow Down Andy is the second choice in the betting for trainer Doug O’Neill, but it would be a concern that the four-year-old is without a victory in three starts this season. But, he did finish ahead of Defunded when third in the G1 Pacific Classic at the start of September at Del Mar. But, he isn’t a horse I’d be keen to side with at the prices.

National Treasure competes against the older horses for the first time this weekend, and he will need to get back on track after finishing outside the first three in both the G1 Travers and G1 Belmont Stakes after winning the G1 Preakness. Stilleto Boy is an admirable runner in this company, but a response will be needed after he failed to finish the G1 Pacific. But, a run into a minor place is likely his best chance this weekend.

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Awesome Again Stakes Prediction

I’d be prepared to side with Senor Buscador this weekend. The five-year-old was fifth in the G1 Hollywood Gold Cup, but he endured a nightmare run throughout that contest. He later added the G2 San Diego Handicap, before running on to finish fourth in the G1 Pacific Classic earlier this month.

Free Pick: