Count Again rallied from last to win Santa Anita's Gr1, $500,000 Shoemaker Mile by 2 1/4 lengths on Memorial Day, earning a Breeders' Cup Mile berth under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.

The Awesome Again gelding didn't graduate from the maiden ranks until late in his 4yo season but has more than made up for time, with the Shoemaker being his fifth GSW. Winner of the Gr1 Kilroe Mile over the same course two starts prior, the Phil d'Amato trainee was a tough-trip sixth in the Gr1 Maker's Mark Mile back at Keeneland, home to this year's Breeders' Cup.

Backstory to the Awesome Again gelding's career arc begins in earnest, as usual, with a special mare, and co-owner Sam-Son Farm's $200,000 purchase of Countus In at 1996 Keeneland November.

The Northern Dancer granddaughter won first out at Ellis Park in 1988 and two seasons later the Matriarch S. making her Gr1 debut. Her GSP daughter Count to Three (by Roberto's son Red Ransom) is dam of both Count Again (by venerable Awesome Again) and Gr1-winning sprinter Ransom the Moon.

Count to Three, a full-sister to Sovereign Award finalist Think Red, is most recently dam to 3yo Pioneerofthe Nile filly Keep Counting.

Keeneland photo.