Bode's Dream plays ‘catch me if you can' in Old Hat

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Bode’s Dream was never headed at any call in three starts at age 2, and there’s a pretty good chance that the trend will continue when the speedy filly makes her 3-year-old debut Saturday at Gulfstream Park in the $100,000 Old Hat.

Bode’s Dream not only led throughout in all three of her victories during her abbreviated juvenile campaign, she was actually extending her advantage at the end of each of those races. Two of those wins came in stakes races run six months apart, the 5 1/2-furlong Astoria at Belmont Park on June 9 and the six-furlong House Party over a sloppy track here Dec. 10.

Bode’s Dream was scheduled to run in the Grade 3 Schuylerville last summer at Saratoga, but trainer Todd Pletcher said he felt she wasn’t thriving at that point and opted to give her time off before bringing her back with another explosive effort in the House Party.

“She’s been very straightforward throughout her career so far,” said Pletcher. “She’s broken well and run well every time, and hopefully she’ll continue that path in the Old Hat. We’ll take it one step at a time with her and keep stretching her out as long as she tells us to.”

Bode’s Dream will face just six rivals in the Old Hat, including her uncoupled stablemate Sand Shark and Wildcat Kate, who chased her from gate to wire before settling for second money, nearly three lengths back, in the House Party.

Sister Nation enters the Old Hat as a maiden but was stakes-placed in her 2-year-old finale when finishing full of run before falling a half-length short of 4-5 favorite Let It Ride Mom in the seven-furlong Glorious Song at Woodbine.

Trainer Mark Casse is high on the lightly raced Summer Luck, who rallied to a 1 3/4-length maiden win going a mile in her 2-year-old finale at Churchill Downs on Nov. 11.

The most intriguing horse in the field may be Atenea, who won her two starts by a combined 24 3/4 lengths in her native Ecuador. Atenea will race with blinkers on and Lasix for the first time in her U.S. debut and may be the one horse in this field capable of keeping up early with Bode’s Dream.

Old Hat, Race 3

Key Contenders

Bode’s Dream, by Bodemeister

Last 2 Beyers: 77-75

◗ She has been working well since the House Party, holding her own in her last two works with stakes-winning stablemate Sonic Mule, who will be among the favorites later on the card in the Mucho Macho Man.

Sister Nation, by Into Mischief

Last 3 Beyers: 73-53-40

◗ Although she failed to factor when trying dirt in the Spendthrift Stallion Stakes at Churchill Downs, she’s certainly taken to the local strip well, turning in a pair of impressive half-mile drills here Dec. 21 and Dec. 30.

Summer Luck, by Lookin At Lucky

Last 2 Beyers: 73-81

◗ She was purchased privately by Gary Barber after finishing second behind the 3-5 No More Babies when launching her career at Keeneland on Oct. 16.