Dream Maker to await Saratoga Special

Trainer Mark Casse entered two of his more promising juveniles, Dream Maker and Strike Silver, in Saturday’s Grade 3 Sanford, but with the intent to run only one. In the end, he made the choice to start Strike Silver while holding Dream Maker out for the Grade 2 Saratoga Special on Aug. 12. Both colts are owned by John Oxley.

“I was going to make the final decision based on if one of them drew a bad post, but neither did,” said Casse. “Dream Maker is a little lighter-made horse, so I just decided to give him a little extra time and wait for the Saratoga Special.”

Dream Maker, a son of Tapit and a full brother to Grade 1 winner Dream Dancing, lagged early before circling the field to win by three widening lengths debuting at 5 1/2 furlongs at Churchill Downs on June 7.

“He’s been one of our stars from the beginning,” said Casse. “I was sitting watching the race, and when he ran down the backside I said ‘Damn, I know he can run better than this.’ And then he kicked in. It reminded me of Classic Empire the way he won. He did almost the exact same thing when he broke his maiden.”