Tendon injury casts doubt on Awesome Feather's racing future

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Awesome Feather, who is expected to be named the 2010 Juvenile Fillies champion at Monday’s Eclipse Award ceremonies, has not been back to the track since closing out her undefeated 2-year-old campaign with an authoritative victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs and her racing future at this point remains uncertain.

Awesome Feather, unbeaten in six lifetime starts, was purchased by Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs Farm for $2.3 million at the Fasig-Tipton November sale two days after winning the BC Juvenile Fillies and was sent shortly thereafter to trainer Chad Brown at the Palm Meadows training facility in Boynton Beach, Fla., where she has remained ever since.

“She’s got a bit of a profile in her tendon,” said Mike Rogers, who serves as business manager for Adena Springs as well as director of racing operations for Stronach’s MI Developments. “Right now we are not overly concerned but being very cautious because tendon injuries can be career ending.”

Brown confirmed that Awesome Feather has not been under tack and has done little more than walk and receive therapy since her arrival at Palm Meadows two months ago.

Rogers said he’s not sure at what point Awesome Feather contracted the injury.

“We’re don’t really know if this was a pre-existing condition or not,” said Rogers. “But we’ve been monitoring it ever since her arrival at Palm Meadows. Frank brought the filly as a broodmare prospect but hopefully we’ll be able to get her back to the racetrack again.”

Awesome Feather was perfect in six starts at 2 under the guidance of trainer Stanley Gold. All five of her wins prior to the Juvenile Fillies came at Calder, where she also swept the filly division of the Florida Stallion Stakes.

Rogers said he’s not sure at what point Awesome Feather contracted the injury.

“We’re don’t really know if this was a pre-existing condition or not,” said Rogers. “But we’ve been monitoring it ever since her arrival at Palm Meadows. Frank brought the filly as a broodmare prospect but hopefully we’ll be able to get her back to the racetrack again.”

Awesome Feather was perfect in six starts at 2 under the guidance of trainer Stanley Gold. All five of her wins prior to the Juvenile Fillies came at Calder, where she also swept the filly division of the Florida Stallion Stakes.

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