Mare enjoys Dream trip against the boys at Calder

Dare to Dream Stable LLC's NICOLE'S DREAM (Northern Trend) took on her male

counterparts in Saturday's $250,000 Calder Turf Sprint H. and prevailed by a

length with E.T. Baird in the saddle. Quickly moving to the front while saving

ground along the hedge, the Larry Rivelli-trained six-year-old led the way

through splits of :21 and :43 3/5 before finishing five furlongs on the firm

green in :55 2/5.

Nicole's Dream was sent off the 5-2 second choice and gave back $7, $3.60 and

$2.60 while starting the $18.80 exacta, $184.20 trifecta and $1,159,80

superfecta (5-6-8-4). Atticus Kristy (Atticus) was next under the line, giving

back $3.20 and $2.60 as the 2-1 favorite, and next by 1 1/2 lengths was

Nacascolo (Rahy), who returned $5.40 at 14-1. Blue Pepsi Lodge (Pioneering), Gin

Rummy Champ (Jeblar), Dirtymoposse (Minister's Mark), Whata Soldier (Lost

Soldier) and Sgt. Bert (Confide) rounded out the order of finish. Bow Out (Two Punch) and Justice for Auston

(Lit de Justice) were withdrawn.

Nicole's Dream, bred by Frank and Irene Weaver in Florida, has now won three

straight, including the J J's Dream S. prior to this one, and owns a 49-24-8-3

career mark to go along with $807,904 in lifetime earnings. Rivelli had also

entered the bay mare in the Distaff Turf Sprint Championship H. three races

later, but picked the right race in which to actually run her.

"We went in this race because I thought there was more early speed in the

other race (Distaff)," the conditioner explained. "It looked like the best

horses in this race were more like closers. She's so fast out of the gate and

E.T. knows her like a book. Once she gets clear, she's very hard to beat.

"We'll take her back to the farm in Ocala where she spends the winter months,

give her a week off, and then back to Arlington before we look for another spot.

This was her Breeders' Cup."

With Nicole's Dream in the open division, that left the way clear for Norrine & Douglas Devenport's UNBRIDLED SIDNEY (Unbridled's Song) to lead from

gate to wire in the $250,000 Distaff Turf Sprint Championship under Shaun Bridgmohan. Finishing 3 1/2 lengths ahead of her nearest rival, the Ronny Werner

trainee ran the five furlongs in :55 1/5 after posting fractions of :20 4/5 and

:43.

As the 4-1 second pick in the 10-horse field, Unbridled Sidney was worth

$10.40, $5.20 and $3.60 while Jewels N Gems (Acceptable) paid $6.20 and $5.20 at

6-1. Whenthedoveflies (Dove Hunt) came in another half-length back and returned

$5.60 at 12-1. The exotics totaled $75.20 (exacta), $583.40 (trifecta) and

$3,565.80 (10-1-5-6 superfecta). Running Bobcats (Running Stag), Gilded Gold

(Gilded Time), Very Vegas (Storm Boot), Jabalski Princess (Jeblar), Banner Elk

(Dove Hunt), True Tails (Yes It's True) and Running Lass (Running Stag)

completed the order under the wire. Nicole's Dream was scratched.

Unbridled Sidney, winner of the Mamzelle S. at Churchill Downs, improved her

record to 16-6-3-3 and now owns $411,379 in earnings. The five-year-old mare was

bred in Kentucky by Pacelco SA & Gaines-Gentry Thoroughbreds.

Stuck in between the two turf sprints were two divisions of the Florida

Stallion S. In the $100,000 Desert Vixen division, Padua Stables' SNOW LADY

(Snow Ridge) moved her record to 3-2-1-0 while making her stakes debut. The

Edward Plesa Jr.-trained juvenile miss took the advantage in the stretch but had

to withstand the late charge of Silkily (Line in the Sand), doing so by a neck

while completing six furlongs on the fast main track in 1:13 4/5 under Abel

Castellano Jr.

Snow Lady has now earned $83,860 during her brief career and will go on to

the second leg of the Florida Stallion S., the Susan's Girl on September 2,

according to Plesa.

In the $100,000 Dr. Fager division, Walter R. Donnelly LLC's STRAIGHT FACED

(Straight Man) ran his record to a perfect three-for-three when posting an easy

4 1/4-length victory. With Manoel Cruz aboard, the Stephen DiMauro-conditioned

two-year-old colt ran three-quarters in 1:11 4/5 to increase his earnings to

$122,800. The bay colt, who captured the Birdonthewire S. last out, is also

headed for the next Florida Stallion S., the September 2 Affirmed division,

according to his trainer.