Dreaming of Drew rallies in Long Branch Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The classy router Dreaming of Drew dug in gamely in the final furlong under Patrick Husbands to take Saturday’s $112,000 Long Branch Stakes, Woodbine’s opening day feature.

Dreaming of Drew hooked up on the lead with Florida shipper Nikee Kan through quick fractions in the 5 1/2-furlong dash for fillies and mares.

Dreaming of Drew assumed command entering the stretch before being overtaken by the diminutive Jeanie B, but she came back on to prevail by a neck, in a time of 1:02.99.

Favored Our Secret Agent finished three lengths back in third. She was followed by Imagery, Ima Beast and Nikee Kan.

Trained by Barbara Minshall, Dreaming of Drew had been sidelined since winning the $250,000 Princess Elizabeth Stakes in October 2020. She spent the bulk of that time at a training center in South Carolina before shipping here to record two fast works earlier this month.

“I’ve got to give Travis Durr in South Carolina big kudos because she just came up here a few weeks ago,” Minshall said. “They did a great job getting her rehabbed and back ready to run. She’s so game. I knew she was going to run to the finish line. I knew she was fit enough. She’s just a really neat filly.”

Dreaming of Drew returned $7.90 as the second choice in the six-horse field. Including an Ontario-bred bonus, the daughter of Speightster earned $72,000 for Hoolie Racing Stable and Madaket Stables.

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