Dreaming of Neno fits well in optional-claiming sprint
Dreaming of Neno had his connections, as well as his mutuel backers, dreaming of Claiming Crown riches when he surged to a clear lead in midstretch of the off-the-turf Canterbury Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 5. But the final furlong took a toll on him, and he faded to fourth, getting edged in a blanket photo for both the place and show position and losing by a length.
Returning Friday in a $46,000 race open to non-winners of three races lifetime and $35,000 claimers, Dreaming of Neno could make amends. Although he is stretching out in distance from five to six furlongs, the added distance would appear to be a non-issue. He is 6 for 18 at six furlongs.
The 7-year-old Dreaming of Neno, trained by Michael Petro, is one of four horses in the seven-horse lineup entered for the $35,000 tag. His primary opposition comes from another $35,000 claimer, the class-dropping City of Weston, and the comebacking Blame Jim from the Todd Pletcher stable.
Race 8
Key Contenders
Blame Jim (Last 3 Beyers: 73-64-91)
◗ He was freshened after going off form last summer but showed promise earlier in his career, winning a maiden race at Saratoga when debuting at 2 and running several lofty speed figures in allowance company in 2015.
◗ Has not started in nearly five months, but Pletcher’s layoff runners are typically ready for their returns, particularly during the winter at Gulfstream.
DRF Formulator Fact: Pletcher’s horses returning from layoffs of 100 days or more have won at a 30 percent rate at Gulfstream over the past five years, but the return on investment is just $1.64.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Blame Jim. Trainer Todd Pletcher is 17-3-4-3 with a $0.88 ROI over the past five years in dirt sprints at Gulfstream Park following a layoff of between 100 and 180 days. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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City of Weston (Last 3 Beyers: 75-73-86)
◗ Is a move-forward candidate following a cutback in distance and a class drop for winning connections. Last April, he won the seven-furlong Blue Heron Stakes locally.
◗ Leading jockey Javier Castellano takes the mount for trainer Peter Walder – a jockey/trainer combination that is 6 for 21 at Gulfstream in 2015-16.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 City of Weston. Trainer Peter Walder is 41-17-6-6 with a $2.94 ROI over the past five years going route to sprint on dirt at Gulfstream Park. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Dreaming of Neno (Last 3 Beyers: 90-66-69)
◗ Although he has easily the top last-race Beyer in the field, he has lost multiple times to a couple of Friday’s rivals at Gulfstream. City of Weston beat him twice in the summer of 2014, and Trev defeated him last May and July.
Seve (Last 3 Beyers: 76-80-74)
◗ Is just 4 for 30 lifetime, but his record is noticeably better if one excuses his losses on turf and synthetic tracks. He is 4 for 21 on dirt and has been among the top three in two-thirds of those dirt starts.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Rod McLeod and No. 6 Seve. Trainer Dale Romans is 26-6-3-3 with a $5.45 ROI over the past two years in dirt sprints at Gulfstream Park following a layoff of 45 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Trev (Last 3 Beyers: 72-52-76)
◗ Has struggled in his past three starts but could awaken with a return to the Gulfstream main track, where he is 3 for 8. However, he might need a race to regain fitness, having recorded just one published work since going unplaced in a turf sprint at Laurel on Nov. 1.