New bed and board for Dream Run

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Randy Martin was enjoying a gorgeous Tuesday morning on the Gulfstream Park backstretch when he was shown the past performances for Thursday's ninth race, an optional claiming/third level allowance event at seven furlongs.

There, in big, black ink was the 109 Beyer Speed Figure earned in his previous start by Dream Run, the horse trained by Paul McGee for whom Martin works as an assistant.

"Wow," Martin said, "I hope we don't bounce."

Those who figure to back Dream Run at the windows hope the same thing. Those looking to beat Dream Run will do so figuring he has to regress off a lifetime best effort.

Dream Run earned his gaudy figure in a similar conditioned race here on Jan. 5, when he just missed catching Beware Avalanche in a swiftly run six-furlong race.

It was Dream Run's first start since Nov. 17. According to Martin, Dream Run suffered from chronic lung infections last year and needed his races spaced out more. But, Martin said McGee has changed Dream Run's feed program and bedding to hopefully ward off that problem.

Instead of hay, Dream Run now gets Respond, a complete grain that contains the same nutrients as hay. Instead of straw, Dream Run is bedded down on shavings.

"He ran his best race last time, so maybe it's working," said Martin, who noted that two of Dream Run's three wins have come at seven furlongs.

Thursday's race features the return of two stakes winners - Windsor Castle and Bowman's Band - from extended layoffs.

Windsor Castle, the 2000 Remsen winner, is making his first start since July 8 when he finished second behind E Dubai in the Grade 2 Dwyer at Belmont. He was entered in the Jim Dandy, but a pulled muscle forced him to scratch.

"Seven-eighths is not his best distance, but we need to start him someplace," trainer Frank Alexander said. "It's not a major goal for us, it's a starting point and it's a long year."

Bowman's Band may be the horse to beat. A son of Dixieland Band, Bowman's Band won his first three starts - including the Summing Stakes at The Meadowlands - before finishing fourth in the Pegasus Handicap. Owner Martin Schwartz has transferred him from John Kimmel to Michael Matz, who has worked the colt three times at Palm Beach Downs. Bowman's Band has run well fresh, winning at first asking and winning an allowance race off an 84-day layoff.

"He puts a lot into his gallops, he's plenty fit to go seven eighths of a mile," Matz said.

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