Dream Maker

DREAM MAKER (c, Tapit&hid=28277">Tapit-To Dream About, by Monarchos)
'TDN Rising Star'. O/B-John C. Oxley (KY). T-Mark Casse. Lifetime Record: 5-2-0-0, $72,850.
Last Start: 10th, GII Tampa Bay Derby, TAM, Mar. 9.
Next Start: GII Blue Grass S., KEE, Apr. 6
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 0.

Although he's a gray, 'TDN Rising Star' Dream Maker could be the proverbial dark horse in Saturday's Blue Grass S. I had him ranked as high as No. 5 a month ago, and although he got dropped from the main list after his next-to-last finish in the Tampa Derby, I have to think that poor showing is not truly indicative of this Tapit-sired John Oxley homebred's real ability. Tampa can be kind of a “twilight zone” track that produces off-kilter individual results, and Dream Maker broke poorly, rated in last, then had his head cocked to the infield while not responding to urging on the far turn. His dam-sire Monarchos won the 2001 Derby, and this colt's second dam, Beautiful Pleasure, was a champion stayer for Oxley. In an effort to instill a newfound sense of urgency in Dream Maker's breaks from the gate, trainer Mark Casse drilled him in :46 flat from the Keeneland barrier last Saturday, earning a bullet for the half-mile distance (1/48). Should Dream Maker figure things out this weekend, he'll have good momentum, a 10-furlong pedigree, and a maiden win over the Churchill surface all in his favor heading to Louisville.

VIDEO PPS