Unbeaten Dream Team ultra-impressive in Prioress
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » With victories in her first four starts, Dream Tree had made Phoenix Thoroughbred III’s $750,000 investment in her look like a smart one. On Sunday, the California-based filly – who hadn’t raced in seven months – went for number five as the 3-2 favorite in the $250,000 Prioress Stakes (G2).
With the scratch of expected pacesetter Dream Pauline, it looked as though Dream Tree (9-5) and narrow favorite Mia Mischief (also 9-5) would probably end up making the running. And that’s the way it turned out, as the two favorites tore through a quarter in :22.30 and a half in :44.93. The two cornered and raced through upper stretch more or less in tandem, but Ricardo Santana Jr. was already scrubbing on Mia Mischief, while Dream Tree, with Mike Smith at the controls, was still under a hand ride.
Dream Tree began edging away near the eighth pole, and, with Smith going to a left-handed whip, she powered down the lane, winning as she pleased in 1:09.50. The margin of victory was 4¼ lengths.
“Man, she brought it today,” said winning trainer Bob Baffert. “She had been training so well, and we were debating on running her [at Del Mar] or take her to Saratoga. I’m just glad she shipped well, and is still undefeated. She showed today how good she really is.”
Smith, who had not ridden Dream Tree in a race – her regular rider had been Drayden Van Dyke – came away impressed.
“She gave me goose bumps, to be honest,” said the Hall of Fame rider. “I was fortunate enough to work her one morning, so I knew she was really talented. But I didn’t realize she was this talented. The only thing that worried me a little bit was the long layoff, but she handled that. She has a natural high cruising speed, and Bob had her ready today.”
Moonshine Memories, last in the early going, came flying late to just miss the place by a head. The rest of the field was strung out behind, with Sower, Cathedral Reader, Purrfect Miss, Classy Act and Win the War finishing in that order. Dream Pauline and Bronx Beauty were scratched.
Dream Tree has won her last three starts – all graded races, including the Grade 1 Starlet last fall as a 2-yearold – by a combined 11¼ lengths. The $137,500 winner’s share of the Prioress boosts her total earnings to $527,500.
Baffert said he had no definite plans for Dream Tree and would wait until she returned to California to make any decision.