“When I called on him, he came with his run,” said Robby Albarado.

The Lone Star Park Handicap was Awesome Gem’s second start without blinkers in quite some time. "It's like he's got a revived sense of run in him now without blinkers," trainer Crag Dollase said. "He had a lot left in him today. What a warrior.”

“I wish every horse was like this dude,” said WPT president Terry Finley. “He is sound, happy, and goes out there and tries each and every time. It’s a testament to Craig Dollase and his team to see him out here at eight-years-old doing so well. The timing to the Hollywood Gold Cup is perfect. He’s run four hard races so far this year, so six weeks between now and the race should give him time to recharge his batteries.”

Awesome Gem will now look to reclaim his title in the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) on July 9th.