Meadows: Dreamonhigh back to defend P.A. Sire Stakes title

When Dreamonhigh arrives at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows for Saturday's $133,980 Pennsylvania Sires Stake for sophomore filly trotters, don't be surprised if she breaks into her happy dance.

That's because it was at The Meadows that the daughter of Andover Hall-RC's Dream captured last year's PASS title in 1:54, fastest mile ever at The Meadows by a 2-year-old trotter - regardless of gender.

Dreamonhigh leaves from the rail in race six with Joe Bongiorno piloting. The Preakness Day card also features a $60,000 PA Stallion Series event for 3-year-old filly trotters. Special post time is 11:30 AM.

That PASS championship wasn't her only triumph at The Meadows, as she also won a pair of PASS preliminary legs and a Keystone Classic split here en route to earnings of $272,411. But that Keystone Classic win on Sept. 15 was her final race of the year. She didn't contest any of the rich late-season stakes because by the time KAT Stables LLC transferred her to trainer Jennifer Bongiorno, only a modest stake schedule had been planned for her freshman season.

"We capitalized on whatever stakes we had," her trainer says. "We figured there was no reason to race in overnights. She's proven she's a top filly."

And Dreamonhigh has come back stronger in areas that Jenn Bongiorno hoped would show improvement.

"When we got her, she was, I don't want to use the word frail, but she was not the biggest horse. She grew, she's stronger, and she's gained so much muscle that we couldn't be happier.

"Her behavior is what we're loving so much. Last year, she had some hot tendencies. We're delighted with her manners now. She's impressive, and she loves her job."

Indeed, Dreamonhigh showed off her new mannerliness in her seasonal debut in a May 11 PASS at Harrah's Philadelphia where, while she was stalking from the pocket, the leader jumped it off. Dreamonhigh and Joe Bongiorno neatly avoided the breaker and went on to score in 1:54 3/5, extending her winning streak to four.

"That horse broke right in her face, and she handled it like a complete professional," Jenn Bongiorno said.

The trainer has supplemented the filly's 2022 stake schedule wherever she could. Now, it's a representative road that includes such engagements as the Breeders Crown, the Matron, the Del Miller, the Delmonica Hanover at Pocono Downs and the Buckette at Delaware, Ohio - but not the Hambletonian Oaks.

"That's okay," her trainer says. "She's still young, and we want to pick our spots. We just want to have her as ready as we can for every start. She'll have her chances, but we won't overextend her.

"We're looking forward to the opportunity to race against the top horses. It's a really strong division, but I really do believe in this filly."

-edited release (Evan Pattak for MSOA)