HEAVILY FAVORED DREAM TREE REMAINS UNBEATEN AS SHE STROLLS HOME IN GRADE II LAS VIRGENES STAKES

By Mike Willman —-

DREAM TREE
Zoe Metz Photography

HEAVILY FAVORED DREAM TREE REMAINS UNBEATEN AS SHE STROLLS HOME BY 3 ¾ LENGTHS IN GRADE II, $200,000 LAS VIRGENES STAKES UNDER VAN DYKE; TRAINED BY BAFFERT, SHE GETS MILE IN 1:39.45

ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 4, 2018)—Heavily favored Dream Tree ran her unbeaten skein to four as she demolished five rival sophomore fillies in Sunday’s Grade II, $200,000 Las Virgenes Stakes, winning by 3 ¾ lengths under Drayden Van Dyke. Conditioned by Bob Baffert, the 3-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo got a flat mile over Santa Anita’s main track in 1:39.45.

Third, about six lengths off the lead while in-hand at the half mile pole, Dream Tree cruised into contention around the far turn, easily overtook her stablemate Thirteen Squared at the top of the lane and easily held sway over a late running Exuberance at the wire.

“I was trying to be patient because I felt we were kind of going a little quick and we were for this track,” said Van Dyke. “We’ve been working on her in the mornings and it’s worked out. I’ve been able to get her to relax and finish well, so what else could you ask for?

“I’m excited about her. Hopefully she stays good and sound and gets even better. I think she will.”

A winner of the Grade I, 1 1/16 miles Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos Dec. 9, Dream Tree is now unbeaten in four starts. Off as the 1-5 favorite, she paid $2.60, $2.10 and $2.10.

Owned by Phoenix Thoroughbred III, Dream Tree, who was purchased for $750,000 at a 2-year-old in training sale this past March, picked up $120,000 for the win, boosting her earnings to $390,000.

“I just love the way she sat off those front-runners,” said Baffert. “I know she has a lot of speed. I think she’s getting better mentally and she’s relaxing and she brought it at the end.”

When asked if Dream Tree will “stay home” for her next start, Tom Ludt, Vice President of Phoenix Thoroughbred III responded, “Yeah, we’ll stay here and point for the Santa Anita Oaks (Grade I, 1 1/16 miles on April 7).”

Next to last with a quarter of a mile to run, Exuberance rallied well for the place, finishing a half length in front of Steph Being Steph.

Off at 16-1 with Corey Nakatani, Exuberance paid $5.80 and $2.80.

Fractions on the race were 23.22, 46.68, 1:11.73 and 1:25.16.

Note: The winner picks up 10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points, while the second, third and fourth place finishers were awarded four, two and one point(s) respectively.

Live racing resumes at Santa Anita on Thursday, with first post time for an eight-race card at 1 p.m. Santa Anita will be open for simulcast wagering on Wednesday, with free parking and admission. Gates will open at 10 a.m.

LAS VIRGENES STAKES QUOTES
GRADE II, $200,000

JOCKEY QUOTES
DRAYDEN VAN DYKE, DREAM TREE, WINNER: “I was trying to be patient because I felt we were kind of going a little quick and we were for this track.
“We’ve been working on her in the mornings and it’s worked out. I’ve been able to get her to relax and finish well so what else could you ask for?!
“I’m excited about her. Hopefully she stays good and sound and gets even better. I think she will.”
TRAINER QUOTES

BOB BAFFERT, DREAM TREE, WINNER: “I thought she was fresh and she was getting a little excited on her way to the gate. I just love the way she sat off those front-runners. I know she has a lot of speed. I think she’s getting better mentally and she’s relaxing and she really brought it at the end.
“She’s all class so I’m just so glad that Kerri and Amir hired me to be their trainer. I’m very fortunate.”

KERRI RADCLIFFE, PHOENIX THOROUGHBRED III, DREAM TREE: “I was finally able to take a deep breath when she was across the finish line. Two furlongs from home we knew. She’s such a good filly, now four for four, and she just keeps improving.
“I saw her at the end of last January at Ciaran Dunn’s Wavertree Stables and I loved her and she breezed really well. When they breeze well and then they come out of it sound and look great, they’ve got to be runners.
“You have to speak to the trainer but I hope he has Oaks fever like I do. Hopefully it’ll be a Patriots- Dream Tree double today!”

TOM LUDT, VICE PRESIDENT, PHOENIX THOROUGHBRED III, OWNER DREAM TREE: “How good is she! Drayden said he didn’t have to do much with her. Although she got a little stirred up going to the gate, she settled real nice for him and did everything right. She’s got a great mind. Yeah, we’ll stay here and point for the Santa Anita Oaks (Grade I, 1 1/16 miles on April 7).”

AMER ABDULAZIZ, PHOENIX THOROUGHBRED III, DREAM TREE: “This is my first time here at Santa Anita. I came all the way from Dubai to watch this race. These are the kinds of races we expected to win when we bought this horse.
“We’ve been talking to Bob and we’re thinking about the Oaks, both Santa Anita and Kentucky, so we’re going there definitely for sure. Having a good filly like this, makes you feel good.”

About Us
Santa Anita Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, and is one of North America’s top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation The Stronach Group is one of the world’s largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is North America’s premier supplier of virtual online horseracing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.