One Fine Dream towers over rivals in MTA Stallion Auction Stakes

The connections of One Fine Dream named their horse early in 2015 and could not have come up with anything more apt for his 2016 campaign. The Iowa-bred by $2,000 stallion Woke Up Dreamin has won four of six starts and nearly $200,000 this year, and he is in line for another payday as the 1-5 morning-line favorite in the $55,000 MTA Stallion Auction Stakes on Monday at Canterbury Park.

The MTA Stallion Auction Stakes is open to “the progeny of stallions whose service was sold at the 2011 MTA Stallion Auction,” according to the race’s conditions, and Woke Up Dreamin was just such a stallion. One Fine Dream qualified for a similar race worth $85,000 on July 15 at Prairie Meadows and won it by more than 11 lengths. He also has won three Iowa-bred stakes, including the $103,000 Iowa Breeders’ Derby in his most recent race. One Fine Dream indeed.

Trained by Kelly von Hemel for Umbrella Stables II LLC, One Fine Dream will have Alex Canchari in the irons when he breaks from post 2 in the last of eight races Monday. One Fine Dream turns back from three straight two-turn races to a 6 1/2-furlong dash but has run well enough before in sprints.

No Holds Barred is the 6-1 second choice on the morning line, but he was beaten more than four lengths by One Fine Dream in their most recent meeting at Prairie Meadows. The rail-drawn Pensador is the other horse who, on paper at least, appears to have a chance.

Race 2, an open allowance sprint for older fillies and mares, also is a pretty good race and rematches the first and third finishers in the Hoist Her Flag Stakes, Ciaran’s Prize and Ball and Chain. Ball and Chain can turn the tables Monday if she’s able to make a clear lead.