Always Dreaming to stand at WinStar Farm upon retirement; racing future uncertain

Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming will stand at WinStar Farm upon his retirement, as the farm announced on Wednesday that it has acquired his breeding rights in partnership.

Always Dreaming, from the first crop of WinStar stallion Bodemeister, races for the partnership of MeB Racing, Brooklyn Boyz, Teresa Viola, St Elias, Siena Farm, and West Point Thoroughbreds. Among the partners with WinStar in the colt's future stallion career are SF Bloodstock, China Horse Club, and Siena Farm.

Always Dreaming was shipped from Saratoga to WinStar this week for a freshening after finishing ninth in the Travers Stakes. While in Kentucky, the colt will undergo a physical exam at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital by renowned veterinarian Larry Bramlage, with the results dictating whether he will retire for the 2018 breeding season or race as a 4-year-old.

“Always Dreaming is a very special horse, and we are excited about his future stallion career at WinStar,” co-owner Vinnie Viola said in a release. “We will continue the ride and support him with some great mares down the road.”

Always Dreaming won the Florida Derby by five lengths before taking the Kentucky Derby by 2 3/4 lengths on a wet track. Since then, he has finished eighth in the Preakness Stakes, third in the Jim Dandy, and then off the board in the Travers.

Out of the Grade 3-winning In Excess mare Above Perfection, Always Dreaming is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Hot Dixie Chick.

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