Dreamfyre leads all the way in Sorrento Stakes
?q=100)
DEL MAR, Calif. - Dreamfyre is 3 1/2 lengths better than anything she has faced this summer in her brief career.
The speedy 2-year-old filly won her debut by that margin against males in the $75,900 Everett Nevin Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, Calif., on July 9. On Saturday at Del Mar, Dreamfyre led throughout the Grade 3 Sorrento Stakes for fillies, winning by 3 1/2 lengths as the 7-2 third choice in a field of seven.
Hector Berrios rode Dreamfyre for the first time. He gained the mount earlier this month after trainer O.J. Jauregui briefly struggled to find a Southern California-based jockey earlier this month.
The $201,000 Sorrento Stakes was run at six furlongs.
Berrios had Dreamfyre in front by two lengths on the backstretch through an opening quarter-mile in 21.74 seconds. The lead dwindled to a length on the turn before Berrios urged Dreamfyre.
“She’s really fast,” Berrios said. “She was very comfortable. In the stretch, she responded.”
Dreamfyre ($9.20) pulled away to easily beat 9-5 favorite Benedetta, who had her second start in the Sorrento. Benedetta, ridden by Victor Espinoza for trainer Simon Callaghan, challenged Dreamfyre on the turn, but could not keep pace in the final furlong.
“She ran good, but the other filly was fast and kept going,” Callaghan said. “I thought we were in the perfect spot.”
Dreamfyre was timed in 1:10.52.
Dua, also 9-5 and the second choice, was second on the backstretch, but could not keep pace with the first two finishers in the stretch, fading to lose by 10 3/4 lengths.
Motet finished fourth, followed by Ur in Trouble, Vinos Angel, and Kythira.
Dreamfyre had a quick three-furlong workout in 35.20 seconds at Del Mar last Monday, the first time Berrios was aboard the Kentucky-bred filly.
Jauregui expected Dreamfyre to set the pace.
“I was comfortable with where she was,” Jauregui said. “I was happy. She kicked at the head of the stretch the way she did at Pleasanton.”
Dreamfyre is by Flameaway and is his first graded stakes winner. Dreamfyre was purchased for $140,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale Co.’s April 2-year-old in-training earlier this year by Dan Eplin.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.