It's High Time, Dream of Me Win at Gulfstream
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Dream of Me and It's High Time secured victories in divisions of the Florida Sire Stakes series for 2-year-olds and 2-year-old fillies Saturday, Aug. 8 at Gulfstream Park.
Dream of Me, under Eduardo Nunez, surged past two rivals in the stretch to win the Dr. Fager division for 2-year-olds by 2 1/4 lengths while It's High Time scored an upset win in the Desert Vixen division for 2-year-old fillies. Both races were contested at six furlongs.
In the $200,000 Dr. Fager, Kathy Machesky's Dream of Me secured the first stakes win of his career. Trained by Anna Varsi, Dream of Me completed six furlongs in 1:12.11 on a fast track. He was followed home by longshot Mr. Kisses second and Brighton Lane third.
Dream of Me, a son of High Cotton —Darn That Girl, by Darn That Alarm, was bred in Florida by McKathan Bros. Varsi believes Dream of Me can stretch out in the upcoming stakes in the series.
"He's classy. When they have that kind of class, they'll just keep going at it. There's no telling how far he can go," Varsi said. "We're going to try and sweep [the series]."
In the $200,000 Desert Vixen division, Tracy Pinchin homebred It's High Time and jockey Harry Hernandez shrugged off a challenge from 1-5 favorite Ballet Diva turning for home on her way to a 3 1/4-length victory at 10-1 odds.
It's High Time, by Gone Astray —My Rolex, by Proud Accolade, completed the six-furlong race in 1:12.59 to register the first stakes win of her career. She was followed home by Stanley Gold stablemates Silent Prayer and Ballet Diva, both owned by Jacks or Better Farm.
"She's small, but her heart is in the right place," said Jose Pinchin, who trains for his wife, Tracy. "We had good luck in the (Florida Sire Stakes) last year, and when they're all homebreds, it makes it that much better."
The 2-year-old filly division of the Florida Sire Stakes series at Gulfstream next will offer the seven-furlong Susan's Girl division Sept. 5 at Gulfstream followed by the 1 1/16-mile My Dear Girl division Oct. 3. The next Florida Sire Stakes for 2-year-olds will be on the same dates, with the seven-furlong Affirmed in September followed by October's In Reality.
Also Saturday the $150,000 Three Ring division for 3-year-old fillies going seven furlongs went to Jacks or Better homebred Dogwood Trail, a grade III-winning daughter of Awesome of Course ; while Ione Elkins' Yourdreamsormine, a son of Mr. Sekiguchi, won the $150,000 Unbridled division for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs. Yourdreamsormine was bred by Bridlewood Farm.
Yourdreamsormine rallied from last in the field of nine at 35-1 odds while Dogwood Trail won as the 1-5 favorite.
Gulfstream Park reported total handle Saturday was up 35% compared with the opening day of the Florida Sire Stakes series last year, including a 25.7% bump on-track.
Total handle on the 12-race program was $6.2 million compared with last year's $4.6 million. Total handle out of state was up 36.5% and in-state was 28.8%.
"We had a great crowd to watch the races and we had more than 300 people attend our Summer Soiree wine and cheese event," said Gulfstream General Manager P.J. Campo. "We continue to grow our summer program with great racing, support from horsemen across the country shipping in, and special events."