Dreaming of Anna wires

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Outspoken owner Frank Calabrese is rarely at a loss for words. But immediately after winning the $2 million with Dreaming of Anna, a filly he named after his late sister, Anna Andersen, he was left speechless.

So were observers, who witnessed Dreaming of Anna, a Rahy filly, cap a 4-for-4 season with an emphatic 1 1/2-length victory over Octave in the Juvenile Fillies. Her victory virtually assures she will be voted North America's champion 2-year-old filly.

Although the Juvenile Fillies appeared well matched on paper, Dreaming of Anna was in control throughout. Breaking sharply from the rail, she quickly shot to the lead under jockey Rene Douglas and got away with surprisingly easy early fractions.

With the riders Shaun Bridgmohan and Cornelio Velasquez taking firm holds of their normally front-running mounts - Appealing Zophie and Lilly Carson, respectively - Dreaming of Anna was able to set splits of 23.72 seconds, 47.96, and 1:12.34. Given that luxury, there was no stopping her in the stretch.

She spurted away from the other speed leaving the turn, and had enough left to turn aside a stretch bid from Octave, who surged to within a half-length of the winner in midstretch. Dreaming of Anna extended her lead through the final furlong.

She raced 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.81 over a fast track, a little more than a second slower than Street Sense's time of 1:42.59 in the Juvenile. She paid $7.20 as the favorite.

Garrett Gomez, who rode Octave, said he had a perfect trip and thought his filly had Dreaming of Anna in her sights.

"I thought I was a winner when I came to her, but that filly had another gear," he said.

He felt that Octave, winner of the Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes at Saratoga this summer, flattened out late as a result of her never having raced two turns before the Juvenile Fillies.

Cotton Blossom ran third, 1 1/4 lengths behind Octave. Todd Pletcher trained both Cotton Blossom and Octave.

Appealing Zophie, Cash Included, She's Included, Adhrhythm, Bel Air Beauty, Sutra, Quick Little Miss, Satulagi, Gatorize, Her Majesty and Lilly Carson completed the order of finish.

Dreaming of Anna's win proved special for more than Calabrese, who lost his sister at age 48 to cancer 16 years ago.

She gave trainer Calabrese, trainer Wayne Catalano, and Douglas their first victories in a Breeders' Cup race. Douglas had been 0 for- 10 in the Breeders' Cup before winning the Juvenile Fillies.

"I think I'm still dreaming," he said in a brief television interview while galloping out aboard the winner.

The dream isn't over. In a postrace press conference 15 minutes after his speechless moment in the winner's circle, Calabrese, who turned 78 on Saturday, said he wants to run her in next year in the Triple Crown.

She has already proven she can beat the boys, having won the Grade 3 Summer Stakes over males on turf at Woodbine in her start preceding the Juvenile Fillies.

"She doesn't know the difference," Calabrese said.

Asked of his thoughts on Calabrese's desire to run in the Derby and other major races, Catalano said, "We're talking on emotions right now . . . . I'll have to see how it goes."