Gathering Dreams seeks return to form

Gathering Dreams heads a field of seven 3-year-old Ohio-accredited fillies when she tries to return to her 2-year-old form in the $55,000 Cincinnatian at River Downs. The Cincinnatian is scheduled to be run at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Trained by Joe Shuman, Gathering Dreams was very impressive winning a maiden race at Thistledown on Oct. 19. The victory was so impressive that she was sent off as the 1-9 favorite in the Glacial Princess at Beulah Park on Nov. 8. A daughter of Mercer Mill, Gathering Dreams was second in that event and was given a rest.

In her 2009 debut, Gathering Dreams showed good early speed against older allowance females Mayo22 at Thistledown before tiring to run sixth. Christian Pilares retains the mount.

Star Award won a six-furlong maiden race locally May 30. Trained by Sergio Baez, Star Award was kept just off the early pace before rallying in the stretch to win by 7 1/4 lengths. A daughter of Academy Award, Star Award then ran an even fourth in a statebred allowance race June 12.

Baez will give Lasix to Star Award for the first time on Sunday for her stakes debut. With a Tomlinson of 304 for turf and a 331 for the distance, Star Award looks to be bred to handle both the course and distance. Regular rider Otto Thorwarth will ride.

Accredited Ohio-bred horses are a more restrictive category than registered. Both sire and dam must be Ohio registered to be listed as accredited, whereas only the dam must be to be listed as Ohio registered for a horse to qualify for a registered race.