Graded Stakes-Placed Dreamlike Leaves the Maiden Ranks
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Photo: Coglianese Photos
Dreamlike cruises to victory in a June 14 maiden special weight at Saratoga Race Course
During the 40 days of racing at Saratoga Race Course there are usually some sights that add to the cherished mystique of the meet.
One took place July 13 on opening day when a first-time starter, Becky's Joker , won the $175,000 Schuylerville Stakes (G3) for 2-year-old fillies.
On day two, how about a 3-year-old who finished third in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) winning a maiden race?
Suffice to say, that was indeed the scenario in the second race on the July 14 card at the Spa as Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Dreamlike returned from his gallant effort in the Wood three months ago and cruised to a 6 3/4-length victory to finally register his maiden win in his fourth try.
"He's definitely improved with the blinkers. He's a colt that has always shown a lot of talent but sometimes is not totally focused," said trainer Todd Pletcher who put blinkers on the son of Gun Runner for the first time in the Wood. "The blinkers made a difference but today was the first day he really polished a race off and finished strongly. I thought it was by far his most professional effort."
The respect for Dreamlike's talent off a pair of seconds in maiden races was reflected by his 3-1 odds as the second choice in the $750,000 Wood when he led in mid-stretch and lost by a nose and a head after a bumpy and heated duel to the wire.
In Friday's race, a $105,000 maiden special weight test for 3-year-olds and up, the $975,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale grad faced his elders for the first time and was sent off as a huge 3-10 favorite ($2.70) at the same 1 1/8-mile distance as the Wood,
With a maiden win checked off, Pletcher indicated a return to stakes company was in the cards, but was uncertain if there might be an allowance test before returning to grade 1 company in a race like the Sept. 23 Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx Racing.
"We think he has a good future and the question is if we want to get aggressive again or bring him along a little more methodically and try an allowance race between now and the Pennsylvania Derby or something else. We'll talk to Mike (Repole) and the St. Elias team and we'll come up with a plan," Pletcher said.
Fourth after the opening half-mile, Dreamlike and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. made a strong move on the turn and reached the front at the three-sixteenths pole and then drew clear to cross the wire in 1:49.71 on a track labeled good.
Klaravich Stables' Moore's Law , a Good Magic 3-year-old trained by Chad Brown, was second at 12-1 odds to complete a $15.80 exacta for $2. Harry Rosenblum's Arrogate colt Mount Craig was 1 1/2 lengths back in third for trainer Ron Moquett.
Dreamlike, who was bred in Kentucky by Winchell Thoroughbreds, was a product of the Gainesway consignment at Keeneland. He is out of the Tapit mare Time to Tap, a full sister to champion Untapable , and is her fourth of seven foals and third winner.
She also has an unraced 2-year-old full brother to Dreamlike named Dimatic and a yearling full sister along with a 2023 Silver State colt.