Grand Prairie, Texas (May 30, 2011) - West Point Thoroughbreds, Awesome Gem, trained by Craig Dollase, won the 15th running of the Grade III, $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap, for 3-year-olds and upward, over a fast main track on Monday.

Ridden by Robby Albarado, the eight-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Awesome Again, second in the Lone Star Park Handicap in 2010, rated comfortably behind fractions of :24.51, :47.91, and 1:11.32. With a bold three-wide move, Awesome Gem took the lead entering the stretch and stayed on gamely to the finish to hold off a late charging Flat Out. The final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:43.48. Flat Out finished one length behind in second, and it was another 1 1/4 lengths back to Game On Dude in third.

“He broke really well and put himself in the race,” said winning rider Robby Albarado. “I was worried about him backing up a little bit but he was fine up the backside and content. When I called on him, he took it to them.”

Added Albarado, “I worked him in Kentucky but I got hurt, so I didn’t get to ride him there. This was the first time I’ve ridden him in a race.”

With the win, Awesome Gem earned his first victory since capturing the Grade I Hollywood Gold Cup last July and improved his career mark to eight wins from 43 starts. The $187,500 winner’s share of the purse increased Awesome Gem’s career earnings to $2,508,270.

Awesome Gem paid $12.40, $4.60, $2.80, runner-up Flat Out returned $9.40, $3.40, and Game On Dude paid $2.10 for show. Lydia’s Last Step and Thiskyhasnolimit completed the order of finish.