Dream Central surges late in Suzie O'Cain Stakes to score another upset

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Ring one up for the home team. Saratoga restaurateur Eddie Fazone rooted himself hoarse watching his 3-year-old New York-bred filly Dream Central rally from the rear of the pack to a hard-fought head decision over even-money She’s a Mia in Wednesday’s $125,000 Suzie O’Cain Stakes, giving her owner his first ever win at Saratoga Racecourse.

Dream Central, trained by Gary Sciacca, had already made a name for herself in the New York-bred, 3-year-old filly turf division when registering a 39-1 upset in the seven-furlong Cupecoy’s Joy division of the New York Stallion Stakes last month at Belmont Park. She came back to prove that performance was no fluke when stretching out to a mile and one-sixteenth to defeat an even tougher field in the Suzie O’Cain.

Jose Lezcano, who rode Dream Central for the first time in the Cupecoy’s Joy, was back aboard Wednesday and once again allowed her to relax during the early running, about a half-dozen lengths off early pacesetter Solib. Dream Central commenced her bid wide leaving the turn, was passed by She’s a Mia in early stretch but reasserted herself once finally switching leads nearing the furlong marker, surging late under vigorous urging by Lezcano to be along in the closing strides.

She’s a Mia came into the race off three straight second-place finishes, the last two since switching to trainer Christophe Clement’s barn for her 3-year-old campaign. That dubious streak appeared to be over after She’s a Mia rallied from last to surge clear briefly near mid-stretch. But she ultimately had to settle for second money once again when unable to hold off the winner’s closing bid.

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Dufresne finished third while not threatening the top pair at the end. She was followed in turn by Classic Lynne, Lisa’s Vision, and the weary Solib.

Dream Central, a daughter of Central Banker, went postward at a more modest 9-1 in the Suzie O’Cain, returning $21.40 after completing the distance over a firm course in 1:42.34.

“For a moment I started thinking second is okay but I saw her just keep grinding away and I knew she was going to do it,” said Fazzone, who owns the popular Eddie F’s restaurant near downtown Saratoga. “I’ll be hoarse for the next couple of days. I get into the race a little bit. It’s just overwhelming.

“Coming in here I wanted to win a race so bad and to win a stakes race, one named for Suzie O’Cain, who was a great friend. I can’t be any more happy or blessed than I am right now.”

Sciacca had confidence Dream Central could repeat her previous effort.

“She was training well and I think she wanted to go a little further, so the extra distance was going to help her,” said Sciacca. “She really did turn things around. Her first couple of races she had to get herself together. Today she showed her last race wasn’t a fluke. She was dead game. She kicked it in, and really wanted it.”