Dream Catcher to outstay rivals in Sunday’s Portmore

LAST month’s Thornbird Stakes exposed the favourites’ stamina limitations past six and a half furlongs, TAYLOR MADE, ANOTHER WOW, and VICTORIOUS LINKS going at each other, before DREAM CATCHER mowed them down in the stretch run at seven furlongs.

   Outsped by stablemate TAYLOR MADE at six furlongs in the Hotline Stakes, DREAM CATCHER enjoyed the additional furlong and quicker pace being set for her in the Thornbird, able to relax while ANOTHER WOW did the pressing with VICTORIOUS LINKS keeping the leaders honest.

   Asked to run coming off the turn, DREAM CATCHER overhauled ANOTHER WOW a furlong out and won going away by two and a quarter lengths in 1:27.2, the quickest time recorded at the trip by any three-year-old filly so far this season, and Sunday's  seven and a half furlongs Portmore Stakes is the ideal distance. 

    What might appear to be a collapsing pace benefitting DREAM CATCHER was actually staying pedigree coming to the fore against her peers, who were bred to sprint.

    Sired by Bern Identity, DREAM CATCHER was foaled by local-bred mare Double Jeopardy (Legal Process-Lady Geetadeo), who might not have done much as a racer but has one of the best classic-throwing dam sires in recent times, Legal Process, whose daughter, Alsafra (Legal Process-Tee Gee Vee), won the 2008 Triple Crown.

    Alsafra afterwards foaled Seeking My Dream, a two-time Diamond Mile winner, giving further credence to Legal Process, who was also the dam sire of Lady Najariya, whose son, I DREAM AGAIN, won last year’s Jamaica Derby and St Leger. 

    DREAM CATCHER also has staying pedigree in her mare’s lineage, Lady Geetadeo, whose dam, Fiord, won the 1000 Guineas in 1995. Fiord, sired by Exotic Traveler, was the daughter of Milford Sound, winner of the 1990 Jamaica Oaks. 

   DREAM CATCHER kept pace with TAYLOR MADE at exercise last Sunday morning, six furlongs in 1:15.4, suggesting that she should have no issues stalking whomever decides to contest the lead.

Peter-John Parsard’s SKY IS THE LIMIT, another proven sprinter, will make things even better for DREAM CATCHER at seven and a half furlongs, another speedster to ensure an honest pace for her to pounce as she did in the stretch run of the Thornbird.