Dream Shake going in Pat Day Mile

Dream Shake, third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 3, will start in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile on May 1 at Churchill Downs and not the Kentucky Derby on the same day, trainer Peter Eurton said Friday.

The decision was made after conversations through the week between Eurton and the partnership that owns the colt – Exline-Border Racing, Philip Hausman, and SAF Racing. The Pat Day Mile distance compared to the Kentucky Derby distance of 1 1/4 miles was the difference.

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“It took a lot of thought and was a tough decision for everybody,” Eurton said. “We know how awesome it is to get the opportunity to go to the Kentucky Derby. The distance is the big key.”

Dream Shake has started three times. He won his debut in a maiden special weight race at 6 1/2 furlongs on Feb. 7 at Santa Anita and was third in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 6. In the Santa Anita Derby, Dream Shake finished 6 1/2 lengths behind winner Rock Your World, a leading candidate for the Kentucky Derby.

Flavien Prat rode Dream Shake for the first time in the Santa Anita Derby and will have the mount in the Pat Day Mile, Eurton said.

Last September, Storm the Court, the champion 2-year-old male of 2019, finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby for Eurton. Storm the Court was fifth in the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs on March 6 at Santa Anita and is in light training.

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“He’s been jogging and having some time off,” Eurton said. “I’ll try to have him ready for the summer. I think it’s good to give him a chance to let him feel good again.”