'Dream' returns in allowance

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Stakes horses may have been too much for Leaseholder's Dream the last time she ran. But it's Leaseholder's Dream who may be too much for six allowance rivals in Arlington's nominally featured eighth race Sunday.

Both races eight, at six furlongs on dirt, and nine, at

1 1/16 miles on turf, are for first-level allowance fillies, but the eighth has a stronger, though smaller, field.

Heading it is Leaseholder's Dream, who has spent much of her short career on the sidelines. Leaseholder's Dream made her debut here last Aug. 1 in one of the stronger 2-year-old races of the summer, and there was a mild buzz before the race that this filly could run. Run she did, but only for about a half-mile, and after setting the pace to the stretch, Leaseholder's Dream tired to finish fourth. She didn't race again for almost 10 months.

Her comeback race came here May 18, and this time there was no question that somebody "liked" the filly. Leaseholder's Dream went postward at odds of 5-2 and won easily, drawing away for a 2 3/4-length win over Rich City Girl, who won her next race by double-digit lengths.

Then came the $75,000 Real Delight Stakes on less than two weeks' notice. Leaseholder's Dream failed to break alertly, tracked a quick early pace, and was out of gas at the quarter pole. She finished fifth, beaten about eight lengths, but has returned to work twice since then for trainer Tom Dorris. Breaking from the rail Sunday under rider Carlos Silva, Leaseholder's Dream can either go to the lead or press a fast pace as the situation dictates.

Stealing Thunder and Gaelic Miss may be the most significant threats to Leaseholder's Dream. Stealing Thunder tried a route race on yielding turf last time out and failed, but her dirt sprint form is much stronger. Gaelic Miss caught a sharp winner in her most recent race and turned in a solid effort to finish second.

Sue's Good News to Oaks

Sue's Good News has been working well in the morning, and Thursday at Arlington she worked well in the afternoon. Facing seven overmatched opponents - all of them older than she - Sue's Good News cruised to a 4 1/2-length victory, setting her up for a start in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks July 19.

A 3-year-old Woodman filly trained by Steve Hobby, Sue's Good News now has won the first four starts of her career without so much as an anxious moment.

"I'd have hated for her to get in some kind of fight out there," Hobby said. "This was perfect, just what I wanted."