Dream Lith should have easier time in Fantasy

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Dream Lith, who is the last horse to defeat the win-streaking Secret Oath, is headed for the Grade 3, $600,000 Fantasy on April 2 at Oaklawn, trainer Robertino Diodoro said Tuesday.

The 1 1/16 miles race offers Kentucky Oaks points on a scale of 100-40-20-10.

Dream Lith won the Grade 2 Golden Rod over fifth-place finisher Secret Oath on Nov. 27 at Churchill Downs. Since the race, Secret Oath has won three straight races – including the Grade 3 Honeybee and Martha Washington at Oaklawn – by a combined 23 lengths. She is now headed for the Arkansas Derby, according to trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

“Now that Secret Oath is going to the Arkansas Derby, one guy that’s probably smiling is Pat Pope,” Diodoro said of Oaklawn’s racing secretary. “The Fantasy is going from a four- or five-horse field to probably an eight-, nine-horse field.”

Dream Lith has made one start since the Golden Rod and split an 11-horse field in the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra, closing for sixth Feb. 19 at Fair Grounds.

Dream Lith has since worked five furlongs in a bullet 1:00 on March 11 at Fair Grounds.

“She’s doing well,” Diodoro said. “We’ll get another work into her said be ready for the Fantasy.”

Dream Lith races for Cypress Creek Equine and Arnold Bennewith. She’s from the female family of Grade 1 Ashland winner and millionaire Madcap Escapade.