Elysea's World edges Dream Awhile in Matchmaker

Chad Brown’s embarrassment of riches in the older female turf division spilled over into Monmouth Park on Sunday when Elysea’s World nipped Dream Awhile in the Grade 3, $100,000 Matchmaker Stakes.

The Brown-trained Elysea’s World was the 4-1 third choice under Jose Ortiz, the Brown-trained Dream Awhile was the 3-5 favorite with Joe Bravo, and the longer price was marginally the better horse Sunday.

Dream Awhile, settling in fourth, raced in fairly close attendance to Viva Vegas’s slow opening quarter-mile in 24.77 seconds and a moderate half in 48.31. Bravo keeping his mount in the clear as he inched forward on the outside around the far turn. Dream Awhile bid in earnest for the lead past the three-furlong pole, but Ortiz got Elysea’s World into her wake and followed the favorite past the quarter-pole and into the homestretch. Dream Awhile collared Viva Vegas and took the lead, but Elysea’s World had slightly better momentum, reached her just past the sixteenth pole, and pushed past to win by a neck.

Pace-pressing Special Event got third but the top two were much the best. Lift Up lost for the first time on turf while making her sixth start on the surface and never really had a chance when held near the back behind the easy pace. Off six furlongs in 1:11.68 and a mile in 1:35.39, Elysea’s World ran 1 1/18 miles on firm turf in 1:47.70.

Elysea’s World, a 5-year-old, ran her record to 20-5-5-3 while pushing her career earnings past a half-million dollars. By Champs Elysees, Elysea’s World is out of the Singspiel mare Ideal World and is owned by Sheep Pond Partners and All Pro Racing.

The Matchmaker is so named because in addition to purse money the top three finishers earn a free breeding to one of three WinStar Farms stallions: Commissioner, Exaggerator, and Tourist.