Mardukas the First Winner for Always Dreaming

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Mardukas the First Winner for Always Dreaming
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Photo: Coady Photography
Mardukas breaks his maiden at Churchill Downs

Mardukas , sent off at odds of 44-1, brought home a victory in his second start June 26 in a maiden special weight race at Churchill Downs, becoming the first winner for Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Always Dreaming  .

Trained by Jeff Engler, the 2-year-old colt stayed on the pace early under Corey Lanerie to cruise behind Cravens. Keeping a firm hold on the rail into the stretch, the colt deflected rivals Cortese and Clear the Deck to cross the wire in 1:05.44 for owners Daniel Preiss and Chris Province. 

Mardukas paid $91.60 on a $2 win ticket. The colt finished last of seven in his June 8 Churchill debut.

Bred in Kentucky by Hubert Vester, Markdukas was a $20,000 purchase by Daniel Preiss at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale from the Mulholland Springs consignment. 

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Mardukas is out of the Pulpit mare Blue Kisses, who has three winners out of three foals to start. The dam also has a yearling Bolt d'Oro   filly and a 2022 Vekoma   filly. 

First-crop sire Always Dreaming is an 8-year-old son of Bodemeister   out of the In Excess mare Above Perfection, who also produced grade 1 winner Hot Dixie Chick , the dam of this year's La Troienne Presented by Signify Health (G1) winner Pauline's Pearl .

An earner of nearly $2.4 million, Always Dreaming stood the 2022 season at WinStar Farm in Versailles, Ky., for $12,500.