Jess's Dream 'Getting Close' to Racing Debut
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Jess's Dream, the first offspring of 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, is nearing his highly anticipated first career start, which could come this summer at Saratoga Race Course.
On Aug. 2 the 3-year-old colt's year-younger half sister, Rachel's Valentina, registered a promising two-length debut victory at the Spa. The Bernardini filly is trained by Todd Pletcher for Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Stables, which campaigned Rachel Alexandra along with Harold McCormick.
A son of Curlin trained by Kiaran McLaughlin for Stonestreet, Jess's Dream has been breezing steadily on the Saratoga main track. He most recently logged his first breeze at five furlongs, which he completed in a bullet 1:00.10 Aug. 6. The time was the fastest at 16 at the distance.
Jess's Dream was named for Banke's late husband, Jess Jackson.
"He worked very well and came out of it well," McLaughlin said of the colt, whose training had been delayed by injury. "We're getting close to a race; when and where, I don't know. He's talented. We're hopeful just to get him started in a maiden race and then go from there."
If Jess's Dream makes his debut at Saratoga, McLaughlin will be faced with a dilemma given the available distances and configurations of the main track.
"A flat mile would be my preference," McLaughlin said. "That's what's hard. He's not really a sprinter, but you'd hate to get him started at a mile and an eighth here, because the choice is seven (furlongs) or a mile and an eighth.
"That's why we're going to have a little powwow, but at least we're getting close to asking that question."