Not This Time Colt Relishes Turf in Ellis Maiden Win

This column highlights the performances of maidens who have made no more than five starts and who either sold for more than $500,000 at public auction, have siblings that are graded/group winners, or have dams that are graded/group winners. BloodHorse research shows maiden winners, in particular, who meet these criteria are more likely to go on to be graded stakes winners.

Ellis Park

Although Taylor Made Stallions' Not This Time   has sired prolific two-turn horses such as 2022 Travers Stakes (G1) hero Epicenter   and 2023 champion turf male Up to the Mark  , the stallion's runners have shined sprinting over the lawn this year. The son of Giant's Causeway is represented by recent world-record setter Cogburn , who scorched 5 1/2 furlongs in :59.80 on the turf in the Jaipur Stakes (G1T) on Belmont Stakes (G1) day at Saratoga Race Course. Not This Time is also the sire of Jaipur runner-up Arzak , winner of the Shakertown Stakes (G2T) during the Keeneland spring meet.

Considering the stallion's progeny success with turf sprinters, it was no surprise to see his recent 2-year-old maiden winner, Dream On , excel on the Ellis Park grass July 14 for D. J. Stable.

Dream On was plucked out of the Ocala Breeders' Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training for $380,000 following a :10 1/5 one-furlong breeze at the under tack show. The burly bay worked several times at Mark Casse's private training center in Ocala, Fla., before joining the Hall of Fame trainer's string at Churchill Downs. Since the colt impressed in his morning works over the main track, he tried the dirt in his June 20 debut, racing with the first flight early on before tiring late. Dream On bounced out of the effort with a sharp half-mile drill in :47 3/5 two weeks later, more than ready by the time he made his second outing.

Away from the gates more sharply than in his debut, Dream On prompted the front-running Brie's in Town  under Luan Machado and headed that rival turning for home. Striding out powerfully down the lane, he edged in front of his foe inside the final sixteenth and struck the wire a length in front in 1:01.48 for the 5 1/2 furlongs on a firm turf course.

Dream On was bred by Aaron and Marie Jones, who purchased the colt's dam, Mamma Kimbo, for $1.2 million out of the 2013 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale. The lightly raced Mamma Kimbo, a daughter of Discreet Cat, won two of five starts for trainer Bob Baffert, including the 2012 Fantasy Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park. With Dream On, she has produced five winners to date, including another stakes performer in 2017 Tom Ridge Stakes winner Balandeen  (Bernardini).

#4 DREAM ON ($5.02) dueled with #8 Brie's in Town down the lane, but got the best of that rival late to graduate in race 2 at Ellis Park for @markecasse and @DJ_Stable. pic.twitter.com/TwckL6IFIb

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) July 14, 2024