Dreams Divine gets it done in Los Alamitos Oaks

Dreams Divine ($3.20) ran to expectations in Saturday’s $403,500 Los Alamitos Oaks for 3-year-old fillies, taking an advantage of a clean start to win the 400-yard race by a half-length.

Dreams Divine was a bit fussy in the gate in the moments before the start, but was settled under jockey Oscar Peinado when the gate opened. Suite Expectations (17-1) held a narrow advantage in the first 100 yards before Dreams Divine reached the front.

Dreams Divine, who was hand-ridden to the wire, was timed in 19.76 seconds, and earned $169,470 for Reliance Ranches and trainer Mike Robbins. Dreams Divine was the fastest qualifier from the March 7 time trials.

Southern Wagon, a trial race winner who was 5-1, closed from fifth to finish second, a nose in front of Suite Expectations in the field of nine.

The Oaks was previously known as the La Primera Del Ano Derby and underwent a transformation in the last year with a new name and an infusion of prize money. The 2019 La Primera Del Ano Derby began with a purse of $50,000-added and had a final value of $210,000 once nomination and entry fees were included.

The Los Alamitos Oaks began with a purse of $125,000-added when the nomination process began. This is part of a national movement to increase prize money for 3-year-old fillies. This summer at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico, the track will offer the Rainbow Oaks in July and All American Oaks in September for fillies for the first time. The Rainbow Oaks has an estimated purse of $250,000, while the All American Oaks has an estimated purse of $500,000.

Dreams Divine, by Apollitical Jess, has won 6 of 8 starts and earned $408,209. Robbins told Los Alamitos publicity that Dreams Divine may race in Ruidoso this summer.