Eddie's New Dream noses out Becca Taylor in Irish O'Brien

ARCADIA, Calif. - Eddie’s New Dream edged the previously unbeaten Becca Taylor by the slimmest of noses to win the first stakes of her career in Saturday’s $101,000 Irish O’Brien Stakes for statebred fillies and mares at Santa Anita.

The result was not confirmed until a four-minute review of the photo. Ridden by Mario Gutierrez, Eddie’s New Dream ($8.80) trailed 4-5 Becca Taylor by a half-length with a furlong remaining and needed the final yards to take the lead.

“I didn’t know if she would catch her, but she’s a fighter,” Gutierrez said.

Eddie’s New Dream ran about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course in 1:13.63 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 86.

Becca Taylor, a winner of her first six starts, including two stakes, set an early pace of 22.49 for the opening quarter-mile and 45.17 for a half-mile, holding a half-length advantage. Eddie’s New Dream stalked Becca Taylor on the hillside portion of the course and moved to a contending position on the outside of that rival as the field approached the main turf course.

“I didn’t think she’d get there, to be honest,” said winning trainer Ben Cecil. “She’s a tough, consistent filly. This is not her trip. She’s more of a miler.”

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Cecil said that Eddie’s New Dream missed a week of training in February because of illness, which led to a three-week gap between published workouts.

Becca Taylor finished two lengths clear of 7-2 Sensible Cat, who was followed by She’s Devoted, Sassyserb, Pulpit Rider, and Maybe I Will.

Eddie’s New Dream, a 4-year-old filly by Square Eddie, races for owners and breeder Paul and Zillah Reddam. Prior to the Irish O’Brien, the closest Eddie’s New Dream had come to winning a stakes was a head loss when third in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar in November 2020 in her third start.

Eddie’s New Dream has won 5 of 13 starts and earned $346,760.