SULLY’S DREAM TAKES THE FIELD GATE TO WIRE IN NEW ORLEANS LADIES OVERNIGHT STAKES

By Ryan Martin —-

3/24/2018. – Sully’s Dream with jockey Gary Stevens aboard turns for home and goes on to win the 4th running of the New Orleans Ladies Overnight Stakes at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Ann Switalski

NEW ORLEANS (March 24, 2018) – Ralph Ebert and Patrick Waresk’s Sully’s Dream was relaxed the whole way around when a victory in the $50,000 New Orleans Ladies Overnight Stakes.

Guided in gate-to-wire fashion by Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens, the daughter of Colonel John led the seven other fillies and mares by two lengths during the race’s early stages while setting opening fractions of 23.42, 48.35 and 1:12.59 with Mannerly tracking in second. At the top of the stretch, Sully’s Dream opened up on the field and took the New Orleans Ladies Overnight Stakes by 4 ½ lengths in a time of 1:42.73. Vagabond Princess got second while Mannerly took third.

“I breezed her last Sunday and she has a really light-mouth on her,” Stevens said. “When I worked her, I had a finger in the martingale and had it in there tight. I didn’t dare take my finger out of it, because she would pop her head up, but I got along with her great. I came back and asked him, ‘Do you run her with a neck strap?’ He said, ‘I sure do.’ I never took my finger out of it the entire race. I haven’t ridden very many races where I haven’t taken a finger out of it. I kept my balance pulling on that instead of the reins, because if you pull on the reins she’ll throw her head. It’s a good trick to have.”

The New Orleans Ladies Overnight Stakes was a second stakes victory for Sully’s Dream, who won the Houston Distaff at Sam Houston in similar front running fashion for trainer John Ortiz.

“She was real great,” Ortiz said. “She’s very effective to the front end and she just gets brave. She has a big heart and has such a high cruising speed. We’re looking at taking her to Keeneland for the (Grade III $150,000) Bewitch (on April 27) is something that has been on our radar. We’ll point her towards there. It’s one option at least.”

Sully’s Dream rewarded her backers in the form of payouts of $21.80, $10.20 and $7.60 while Vagabond Princess returned $12.80 and $8. Mannerly paid $9.6-0 to show.

Mom’s On Strike, a winner of two stakes events over the Stall-Wilson Turf Course this meet, sat well off the pace and got fourth as the 4-5 post time favorite.

“We rode her the same as we usually do, but the turf is very firm today,” jockey Adam Beschizza said. “That does no favors for us; every time she’s run it’s usually been good to yielding and there’s been that little bit of cushion for her to reel them back. She’s a bit of a late closer and with how quick the ground is the speed seems to be holding.”

A victory in the New Orleans Ladies Overnight Stakes was a sixth career victory for Sully’s Dream who has now secured $190,699 in career earnings.

Rounding out the field were Mom’s On Strike, Charged, Proud Reunion, Desert Duchess and Five Hearts.

Earlier on the card, Ivery Racing Stable’s Monte Man ($15.20, $7.80 and $4.60) scored his fourth consecutive triumph when switching to the turf to take the Costa Rising Overnight Stakes.

The 5-year-old son of Custom For Carlos was fifth early on while Forerun led an opening quarter of 22.06. The race was then taken command by Adios Yankee who led coming down the top of the stretch in a half of 58.11, but Monte Man charged down the top of the stretch and won the race by 1 ¼ lengths in a time of 1:04.28 under jockey Adam Beschizza. Rock N Sake ($12.00 and $5.60) came from well off the pace to take the place spot. Trust Factor ($2.60) finished third as the 7-5 post time favorite.

“He pretty much did it all for me,” Beschizza said “He’s turned a corner in the right direction. It’s nice for him to transfer what he’s been doing onto the turf so now there are options.”

Trainer Ron Faucheux claimed the horse last fall and has not lost in three starts for the trainer. Last time out, Monte Man won the Louisiana Premier Night Sprint at Delta Downs.

“He had an a-other-than when we first got him and he’s gotten better every start,” Faucheux said. “We didn’t know if he’d take to the turf the way he did today but he did. I think he just continues to get better, through training and racing. He likes the outside post so I was happy being in the 14-hole. He’s had an outside post every race we’ve had him except the race at Delta where he broke dead last but once he got on the outside he went on.”

A victory in the Costa Rising Stakes pushed Monte Man’s career earnings up to $262,055. He has now made seven trips to the winner’s circle in 25 lifetime starts.

Rounding out the field were Adios Yankee, B B Special, Forerun, Jack Snipe’s, Eden’s Grey Kitten, Laughingsaintssong, Win Lion Win, Stand Him Up and Hawaiian Appeal.

Photos Courtesy of Hodges Photography