Dream Lith takes step toward Kentucky Oaks with Golden Rod triumph
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Dream Lith faced some of this season's best 2-year-old fillies in Grade 1 outings in the late summer and fall. She persisted and finally earned a graded stakes victory that ignited Kentucky Oaks dreams of her own in Saturday's Grade 2, $400,000 Golden Rod Stakes beneath the twin spires of Churchill Downs.
The Golden Rod awards its top finishers points toward the 14-horse Oaks field on a 10-4-2-1 scale. The filly classic on the first Friday in May will "absolutely" be the objective for Dream Lith, said Ryder Finney, manager for Cypress Creek Equine, which co-owns the filly with Arnold Bennewith.
"She took a big step in the right direction," Finney said.
Dream Lith ($20.20), with Ramon Vazquez in the irons for trainer Robertino Diodoro, was sixth in the field of eight at the five-sixteenths pole. Just more than five lengths ahead of her, pacesetter Yuugiri was completing six furlongs in a moderate 1:12.85, but favored Sandstone, winner of the Rags to Riches Stakes last month at Churchill, was at her throatlatch after sitting a perfect stalking trip in second throughout.
As the field straightened away into the stretch, the two were on even terms, and Sandstone appeared poised to go by. However, Yuugiri refused to give way, clawing her way back to a half-length lead. Dream Lith, rallying three-wide, soon appeared the danger on the scene. Following a long drive, Yuugiri grudgingly gave way in the final yards, and Dream Lith inched away to a length margin at the wire.
The final time was 1:44.72 for the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track.
After Yuugiri, it was 3 1/4 lengths back to Sandstone in third. Famed, a half-sister to champion Essential Quality, finished another 3 1/4 lengths back in fourth after being sent away as the second choice in her stakes debut. Rounding out the order of finish were Secret Oath, Code for Success, Cancel This, and Hal's Dream.
Dream Lith, by Medaglia d'Oro, won for the second time in four career starts. Following a debut victory on Aug. 8 at Saratoga, the filly was fifth behind Echo Zulu in the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes on Sept. 5 at the same track. Dream Lith then was fifth when trying two turns for the first time, in the Grade 1 Alcibiades Stakes on Oct. 8 at Keeneland, won by Juju's Map. Echo Zulu and Juju's Map later swept the exacta in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 5 at Del Mar.
"Juju's Map and Echo Zulu are the two best 2-year-old fillies I've seen this year," Finney said. "In hindsight, we probably ran in the two toughest prep spots for the Breeders' Cup. I'm very glad we picked this spot."
Dream Lith is expected to winter with Diodoro's string at Oaklawn Park, with her next target among the Oaks points races to be determined.
Two races later, Marissa's Lady inched clear of favored Matareya for a length victory in the evening's other rich prize for 2-year-old fillies, the $200,000 Fern Creek Stakes. The filly sprint and its brother event, the Lively Shively, were added to this second "Stars of Tomorrow" program of the fall meet for a total of four stakes on the card.
Marissa's Lady ($8) was stepping straight up to stakes company after winning her debut by a head on the first Stars of Tomorrow card on Oct. 31. The Violence filly is trained by Bill Morey for Boone Family Trust and Tillema Family Trust. Rafael Bejarano has ridden her to both victories.