Baffert believes $1 million colt Dream Team has potential
CYPRESS, Calif. – With a name like Dream Team, the 3-year-old colt trainer Bob Baffert starts at Los Alamitos on Sunday will always be the subject of lofty expectations.
Dream Team was purchased for $1 million at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale and beat maidens in his third start, which came at a mile at Del Mar on Nov. 19. He returns Sunday in a first-level optional $40,000 claimer at a mile.
“He’s coming back a little quick, but it’s hard to find races for him,” Baffert said. “I think he should run well.”
Dream Team is part of a field of nine which includes three horses who have run well in California-bred stakes this year. Grazen Sky won the Silky Sullivan Stakes at Golden Gate Fields in April; Old Man Lake was third in the Bertrando Stakes here in July; and Avanti Bello was third in the E.B. Johnston Stakes for statebred 3-year-olds here in September.
Race 8
KEY CONTENDERS
Dream Team (Last 3 Beyers: 82-80-74)
◗ Owned by the Coolmore Farm partnership of Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derrick Smith, Dream Team is by Tapit and out of Pretty ‘n Smart, by Beau Genius. The colt is a half-brother to three stakes winners – Heart Ashley (who earned $395,896), Ashley’s Kitty ($349,268), and the Baffert-trained Indianapolis ($127,200).
◗ Baffert said Dream Team has the potential to run well on Sunday, and that he is a prospect for important races in 2016.
“I think he’s better than what he’s showed,” Baffert said. “He’s bred for the distance.”
Avanti Bello (Last 3 Beyers: 90-89-91)
◗ Avanti Bello won an optional claimer for California-breds at a mile by 2 3/4 lengths at Del Mar on Nov. 6, his first win since being acquired privately by trainer Doug O’Neill on behalf of a partnership.
◗ Avanti Bello joined O’Neill’s stable last winter and finished eighth in the Eddie Logan Stakes on turf in his debut for the barn. He was sidelined with injury for the next eight months.
“We’ve been pretty excited about him for a while,” O’Neill said. “The time off and with running two turns on dirt, he’s turned into the special horse that we thought he could be.”
Waymond Boyd (Last 3 Beyers: 82-82-76)
◗ Trained by Baffert, Waymond Boyd won a maiden race in his third start, which came at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Sept. 7. He was seventh of nine after a poor start in an optional claimer at a mile at Del Mar on Nov. 14.
“He hadn’t run in a while,” Baffert said. “He needed the race.”
◗ Owned by Spendthrift Farm, Waymond Boyd began his career in July. He was purchased for $725,000 at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale.