Dreamt in U.S. debut for Mott

ARCADIA, Calif. - The first week of 2010 has been acquaintance week for trainer Bill Mott's team and their new horses owned by Juddmonte Farms.

Seven Juddmonte-owned horses were transferred to Mott's stable at Santa Anita from trainer Humberto Ascanio in late December, and include the French stakes winner Dreamt, as well as Proviso, who was fourth in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic in November.

Dreamt will make her first start in the United States in an optional claimer over a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Friday. The race will be her first race since a two-length win in the Prix Coronation over a mile on turf at Saint-Cloud, France, on Sept. 24.

A winner of 3 of 8 starts and $120,562, Dreamt has had one work for Team Mott, a half-mile in 49.40 seconds at Santa Anita on Sunday.

"She had a nice little breeze for us the other day," assistant trainer Leana Willaford said. "It's not an easy race. There are a couple of toughies in there."

Friday's race distance should suit Dreamt, with her three wins at a mile on turf. Even in her losses, she has kept good company. Dreamt was third in the Prix de la Cochere Stakes over a mile on turf on Sept. 4, losing to Sweet Hearth, who returned to finish second in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret against males in early October.

Dreamt will be ridden by jockey Garrett Gomez, who will have strategic options. Dreamt has led throughout and has rallied from last in recent races, though she seems best when allowed to settle behind the pace.

"He'll suit her really well," Willaford said.

Dreamt is part of a field of nine that includes the multiple stakes winner Bootleg Annie, who won the California Cup Distaff Handicap on the hillside turf course in October, and General Consensus, who was stakes placed in October. Bootleg Annie, 6, has drawn the rail and is expected to set the pace in an attempt to win her 16th race.

Flashover, second to Bootleg Annie in the California Cup, is a threat as a stalker. She won an allowance race at Hollywood Park on Nov. 13 and is entered to be claimed for $100,000 on Friday.

Ascanio, a former assistant to the late Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, starts Eissoai, who was stakes placed at Saratoga last year.