Interstatedaydream saves just enough gas to make it home in Allaire duPont Distaff
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BALTIMORE – Six hours after the major contender he had trained toward the Preakness, First Mission, was scratched from Saturday’s race, Brad Cox’s first stakes starter of the Pimlico weekend, Interstatedaydream, scratched and clawed her way to a half-length victory as the odds-on favorite in Friday’s $100,000 Allaire duPont Distaff.
Despite controlling a slow pace, Interstatedaydream had to dig deep at the furlong grounds to fend off a challenge from 22-1 shot Misty Veil. Misty Veil drew nearly alongside the pacesetter as Le Da Vida loomed farther outside, but thanks to running her first half-mile in a tepid 48.93, Interstatedaydream had enough left to repel the challenges.
“One thing about her is she never gives up. Even last time she was trying hard,” said Cox, who trains the 4-year-old filly for Flurry Racing Stables.
Last time was a fourth-place finish as the 4-5 favorite in the Doubledogdare Stakes at Keeneland. In April 2022 at Keeneland, Interstatedaydream had turned in a disappointing performance in the Ashland Stakes before coming to Baltimore and sharply winning the Black-Eyed Susan. Things did not come as easily this year at Pimlico, and Interstatedaydream, who was on the rise last summer, might already have plateaued.
Falconet was the only other pace in the race, and while she got up into a pressing position, her speed hardly was of the brilliant variety. Interstatedaydream cantered along on a half-length lead past the half-mile pole and into the far turn with Falconet already starting to waver as Misty Veil came to her flank at the five-sixteenths pole. For a mid-stretch moment it looked like both Misty Veil and Le Da Vida had a chance at the favorite.
“The other filly took a swing at me,” said winning rider Florent Geroux. “I switched my stick and when my filly saw her, looked at her in the eye, she gave me another gear the last sixteenth of a mile.
Getting her final furlong in a solid 12.50 seconds, Interstatedaydream clocked 1:49.32 for 1 1/8 miles on a fast track. By Classic Empire out of Babcock, by Uncle Mo, Interstatedaydream was bred in Ontario by William Graham. She paid $3.40.
Five-year-old Misty Veil, trained by Mike Maker, was claimed for $80,000 in November and earned a valuable stakes placing. “My filly made her work for it today,” said jockey Tyler Gaffalione.
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Le Da Vida’s closing style played poorly in a slow-paced race, and as has been the case nearly every start in her career, she failed to switch leads in the homestretch while finishing a half-length behind Misty Veil.
Falconet was five lengths farther behind in fourth as the 17-10 second choice but far in front of Butterbean, who had a horrible start. Bringing up the rear, far down the road from Interstatedaydream, was 56-1 shot Misty Mauve.
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