Calder: Breeders’ Cup possible for Dreaming of Sophia

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Dreaming of Sophia is a daughter of two-time Grade 2 winner Lewis Michael.

MIAMI – Dreaming of Sophia put herself into the upper echelon of a very good division of 2-year-old fillies based here this summer with her two-length victory in Saturday’s six-furlong Cassidy Stakes. It was a performance that has Frank Calabrese, once again the leading owner at the meet, contemplating a trip to California for next month’s Breeders’ Cup.

Dreaming of Sophia is a homebred daughter of Calabrese’s two-time Grade 2 winner Lewis Michael. She finished a disappointing fourth when bet to 6-5 for her debut early this summer but rebounded five weeks later with an easy 6 1/4-length maiden victory before becoming a stakes winner for the first time in the Cassidy.

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“We know she’s a very good filly. We just don’t know how good she is,” said Calabrese, who has dominated the owner standings here all season long. “She’s a very smart filly, and I know she can go the distance. A lot depends upon how she comes out of this last race, and at the moment it appears she’s come out of it just fine.”

Calabrese has a list of a half-dozen options for Dreaming of Sophia’s next start, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Other notable races on that agenda include the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Sprint Preview and the rich, Grade 3 Delta Downs Princess on Nov. 17.

“At the moment we’re probably leaning against the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies,” said Calabrese. “We just want to find a spot where we think she’ll fit best.”

Calabrese, a major player in the claiming game, made his best claim several years ago when he took Romacaca for $25,000 at Gulfstream Park in April 2009. She has since gone on to become a multiple Grade 3 winner of over $800,000.

Calabrese’s best venture into the claim box this season came on May 10 when he put up another $25,000 to halter Bull Dozer at Calder. Bull Dozer has since finished second in the Ponche Handicap before reeling off three consecutive, one-sided starter allowance wins and will be among the favorites to continue his winning ways in Saturday’s $75,000 Kenny Noe Jr. Handicap.

As are all of Calabrese’s local runners, Dreaming of Sophia and Bull Dozer are trained by Luis Ramirez.

Awesome Belle has easy work

Awesome Belle, who has risen to the top of the local 3-year-old filly division with three consecutive stakes wins, worked an easy half-mile in 49.40 seconds over a wet-fast racetrack for trainer Stanley Gold on Wednesday. The versatile Awesome Belle, who has captured the Crystal Rail and Judys Red Shoes on grass following her earlier win over the main track in the Three Ring, will likely go next in the $75,000 Frances Genter at a mile on the grass on Oct. 13.

Bain wins again

Jockey Gary Bain, who won just his second race of the year over the weekend aboard maiden breaker Rockyshomerun, wasted little time getting right back into the winner’s circle after guiding the 12-1 Sweetsouthernman to victory in Wednesday’s opener for trainer Kate Francy.

Manny Cruz was the only multiple winner among the riders on Wednesday’s card, posting a double with Guayana in the third race and Starship Princess in the finale. Starship Finale won the nightcap for trainer Steve Dwoskin despite having been idle since August 2011.

◗ Off the Jak will be favored to defeat seven rivals in Friday’s $28,000 allowance feature. Off the Jak, winless in seven starts this year, ran well in a pair of optional claiming and allowance races this summer at Saratoga.