TDN RISING STARS

May 28, 2020 - Churchill Downs, Race 2, Msw, USD $79,000, 5F, .0000

Beautiful Memories, F, 2, 2018 by Hard Spun

1st Dam: Sky Dreamer (GSP-USA & MSP-Can, $176,065), by Sky Mesa
2nd Dam: To Dream About, by Monarchos
3rd Dam: Beautiful Pleasure, by Maudlin

Owner: John C. Oxley
Breeder: John C. Oxley (KY)
Trainer: Mark E. Casse

John C. Oxley homebred Beautiful Memories (f, 2, Hard Spun-Sky Dreamer, by Sky Mesa) was hammered down to 2-5 in her Churchill Downs unveiling Thursday, and ran to the money with a 'TDN Rising Star' performance.

She was working bullets at the Casse Training Center, including a four-furlong warning shot from the gate in :46 3/5 (1/16) May 2, and wasn't much of a secret here.

Hustled to the front from her inside draw, she was on the engine through an opening quarter in :22.00. The chestnut began to separate herself from her 10 overmatched rivals approaching the quarter pole and poured it on in the stretch while being hand-ridden by Jose Ortiz en route to a facile 10-length victory. Yogurt (Algorithms) was second.

Beautiful Memories' third dam is champion older mare Beautiful Pleasure, who carried Oxley's gold-and-blue colors to six top-level victories, led by a memorable win in the 1999 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Gulfstream Park.

Two-time winner and GIII Arlington Oaks runner-up Sky Dreamer is also responsible for Kimbear (Temple City), a MGSW in Dubai and runner-up in the GIII Lazaro Barrera S. at Santa Anita; and the lightly raced 4-year-old 'Rising Star' Super Comet (Super Saver), sidelined since a fourth-place finish in last summer's GII Amsterdam S. at Saratoga. Sky Dreamer had a foal colt by Violence earlier this year.