Dreaming of Kona Has Spieths Pursuing Inaugural
Image:
Description:
Dreaming of Kona rolls in his debut at Presque Isle Downs
Aldana Spieth thinks her 2-year-old colt Dreaming of Kona might have the most potential of any horse she has trained since going out on her own full-time in 2014.
But she isn't in a major hurry to find out how good the gray son of Fast Anna might become as she makes final preparations for his stakes debut in the 37th running of the $100,000, six-furlong Inaugural Stakes for 2-year-olds Dec. 3 at Tampa Bay Downs.
"Little by little. I don't want to rush him," she said.
Spieth's husband, jockey Scott Spieth, will again ride Dreaming of Kona, who won his career debut by 9 1/2 lengths Oct. 17 on the synthetic Tapeta surface at Presque Isle Downs in Erie, Pa., in a time of 1:10.33 for six furlongs.
"I was impressed by how easy he did it, in my opinion," said the trainer, who owns Dreaming of Kona under her Aldana Gonzalez Racing partnership with the sister-brother tandem of Lisa Ballou and Steve Ballou. "He opened up about four lengths in two or three strides the last eighth of a mile."
Dreaming of Kona is slated to face six rivals, including probable Inaugural favorite Super Chow , whose 3-for-4 record includes a five-length triumph Oct. 29 at Keeneland in the $200,000 Bowman Mill Stakes.
The Spieths hope to develop Dreaming of Kona into a capable two-turn stakes horse while taking a measured, unhurried approach. Their optimism rose another notch when Dreaming of Kona worked four furlongs at Tampa Nov. 9 in :47 3/5, the fastest of 35 workouts at the distance that morning.
"That showed me he can handle the dirt fine, and he galloped out very strong that day," Aldana said.
"He's testing stakes company for the first time, so we'll get a better idea Saturday how good he is," said Scott, who rides Dreaming of Kona every day. "We expect him to run well, but we're taking it one step at a time. All his works seem to tell me he does want to go farther."
A strong showing Saturday could lead to a berth for Dreaming of Kona in the $125,000, seven-furlong Pasco Stakes for newly turned 3-year-olds Jan. 14.
"He's a fast horse, but he is very manageable," Aldana said. "His attitude is like, 'Tell me what I'm supposed to do,' and whatever we teach him, he complies. He's a very intelligent horse who is taking everything in stride. We don't want to press him, but we want to give him a race to build his confidence and keep moving ahead, little by little."
Saturday's other stakes, the 45th running of the $100,000 Sandpiper Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, has drawn a field of six headed by Dorth Vader . The 2-year-old Florida-bred filly, bred and owned by John Ropes and trained by Michael Yates, won the Juvenile Fillies Sprint Stakes for Florida-bred fillies Oct. 29 at Gulfstream Park.
Another Sandpiper contender is trainer Michael Campbell's Lady Radler , second in the $200,000 Myrtlewood Stakes Oct. 28 at Keeneland.
Tampa Bay Downs, Saturday, December 03, 2022, Race 9Entries: Inaugural S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Handsome Playboy (FL)
Pablo Morales
120
Gerald S. Bennett
15/1
2
2Shaq Diesel (FL)
Jose A. Batista
120
Renaldo Richards
10/1
3
3Knox (FL)
Jesus Lopez Castanon
120
Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
4/1
4
4Apocalypso (FL)
Samy Camacho
120
Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
7/2
5
5Dreaming of Kona (KY)
Scott Spieth
120
Aldana Spieth
6/1
6
6Love Me Not (KY)
Angel Suarez
120
Gregory D. Sacco
12/1
7
7Super Chow (KY)
Chantal Sutherland
124
Jorge Delgado
6/5
Tampa Bay Downs, Saturday, December 03, 2022, Race 3Entries: Sandpiper S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Awesome Pic (FL)
Samuel Camacho, Jr.
120
Robert G. Smith
9/2
2
2Final Episode (FL)
Carlos Eduardo Rojas
120
Ramon Minguet
20/1
3
3Dreaming of Snow (FL)
Samy Camacho
120
Gerald S. Bennett
4/1
4
4A Nite in Cairo (KY)
Pablo Morales
120
Timothy E. Hamm
8/1
5
5Dorth Vader (FL)
Marcos Meneses
124
Michael Yates
8/5
6
6Lady Radler (KY)
Antonio A. Gallardo
120
Michael B. Campbell
5/2