Dream Rush made it look easy in her stakes debut (Eleanor Gustafson/Horsephotos.com)

West Point Thoroughbreds and Lewis Lakin's DREAM RUSH (Wild Rush) took the lead soon after the start, shook off defending Eclipse champion Dreaming of Anna (Rahy) turning for home and powered clear to a facile 3 1/2-length tally in the $101,500 Old Hat S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. Trained by Richard Violette Jr., who earlier in the day denied another prohibitive favorite by upending 1-2 shot Lawrence The Roman (Point Given) in the Whirlaway S., the filly sped through splits of :22 1/5, :44 4/5 and 1:09 4/5 before completing 6 1/2 furlongs on the fast dirt in 1:16 3/5. Piloted by Rafael Bejarano, the 2-1 second choice returned $6, $4.40 and $2.10.

"I really put handcuffs on Rafael last time," Violette said. "It was her first start of the year. We wanted her to learn how to rate and she didn't need to run her A-plus race. She did move forward off that, and we thought if we could put pressure on the champion (Dreaming of Anna), we could force her to chase us, and even for a good horse, it's hard to chase, even if you're dead fit."

You Asked (Yes It's True) was last early but closed well late to cut into the final margin in garnering the runner-up spot. The 13-1 shot paid $7.40 and $2.10 while completing the $23.60 exacta ($1). Dreaming of Anna broke alertly and pressed the winner to the top of the lane, but had little left late in a subpar showing. The 2-5 chalk was good for $2.10 and sat on the bottom of the $41.90 trifecta ($1). Splendid In Spring (Best of Luck) capped the $201.90 superfecta ($1) (1-6-4-2) at 53-1, and was followed by Secretsoftheheart (Put It Back) and Bear Now (Tiznow).