Dream Shake headed to Santa Anita Derby

Dream Shake will have a California-based campaign in advance of a potential start in the Kentucky Derby on May 1 at Churchill Downs.

Third in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 6, Dream Shake will start in the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 3, trainer Peter Eurton confirmed Friday.

The $750,000 Santa Anita Derby will be Dream Shake’s third race. He won a maiden special weight race at 6 1/2 furlongs on Feb. 7 in his debut. In the San Felipe, Dream Shake was fourth of seven for the first half-mile and was beaten 10 1/4 lengths by Life Is Good, the expected favorite in the Santa Anita Derby.

Eurton said the Santa Anita Derby has more appeal than shipping Dream Shake to another track in coming weeks.

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“We’ll consider that as our biggest option,” Eurton said. “We can cut out as many variables as we can. If we run one-two and come out it good, we can go to the Kentucky Derby.

“To ship and get on a surface we’re not familiar with, and all the intangibles that come with that, you want to see him run his best race.”