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Dream Empress takes Alcibiades with dream trip
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Dream Empress had raced exclusively on turf prior to the Alcibiades
(Photo by Z/Keeneland Association) |
Livin the Dream Racing's DREAM EMPRESS (Bernstein) tracked patiently in fifth
through the early stages of Friday's $500,000
Alcibiades S. (G1) at Keeneland as 8-5 favorite Mani Bhavan (Storm Boot)
dueled down the backside with 4-1 third choice Be Smart (Smarty Jones). With
those two running on fumes following their early exertions, jockey Robby
Albarado sent Dream Empress after the fading leaders turning for home and opened
up on the field to register a 4 1/4-length victory in a time of 1:43 4/5 over
Polytrack. The 2-1 second choice in a field of seven two-year-old fillies, Dream
Empress returned $6.80, $3.40 and $2.80.
Be Smart tracked in second, 1 1/2 lengths behind Mani Bhavan as that rival
led through an opening quarter of :23. Be Smart rushed up to poke her head in
front of Mani Bhavan as the half was reached in :47 and maintained that slim
advantage through six furlongs in 1:10 4/5. Mani Bhavan threw in the towel at
that point while Be Smart continued on with good courage, but she had no answer
for Dream Empress, who picked up the pieces and powered home an emphatic winner.
Be Smart brought back $4.60 and $4.60 while completing the $29.20 exacta.
Devotee (Elusive Quality) made a brief run for the lead around the far turn but
did not offer a serious challenge. She crossed the wire 3 1/4 lengths behind in
third and returned $6 at 9-1 while capping the $159.20 trifecta. A half-length
farther back was Bon Jovi Girl (Malibu Moon), who finished the $399.60
superfecta (6-1-2-3). The maiden Amanwella (Fusaichi Pegasus) was fifth and beat
only August Rush (Milwaukee Brew) and Mani Bhavan.
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Trained by Ken McPeek, who saddled She's a Devil Due and Take Charge Lady to
victories in this race in 2000 and 2001, respectively, Dream Empress debuted
over the Ellis Park turf course on July 17, where she finished a closing fourth.
The bay lass was then shipped to Saratoga where she broke her maiden by a nose in an
August 22 maiden special weight over 1 1/16 miles on the turf. With her victory
in the Alcibiades, Dream Empress received an automatic bid to the October 24
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita. If she ships west, Dream
Empress will bring a record of 3-2-0-0 and a bankroll of $348,850.
Bred in Kentucky by Hopewell Investments, Glencrest Farm and Bryan Cross,
Dream Empress brought $60,000 at Keeneland September last year. Out of Grade
3-placed stakes winner Chinese Empress (Nijinsky II), she has an unnamed yearling
half-brother by Eddington. Among the noted runners from this female family are
Grade 1 winners Yonaguska (Cherokee Run) and Prenup (Smarten); multiple Grade 2
winners Guided Tour (Hansel), Possible Mate (King's Bishop) and Fairy Garden (Lyphard);
and Grade 2 victors Tap Day (Pleasant Tap) and Cat's At Home (Tabasco Cat).
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