Probably Dreaming ends layoff with First State Dash triumph
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Trainer Gary Capuano said that he didn’t know what to expect from Probably Dreaming, who was coming off a three-month layoff, in the $100,000 First State Dash Stakes at Delaware Park on Sunday. The second-time starter didn’t lose a step, however, getting the best of a scramble for the early lead and powering home to win by 2 1/4 lengths.
“He ran great his first time out,” Capuano said. “We have not really been able to get anything for him since then, but he was coming into this really good. I was kind of a little surprised that he broke so sharp. He is usually not that quick out of the gate. He really ran a great race.”
In his maiden victory at Laurel Park in June, Capuano’s 2-year-old colt stumbled at the break and had to circle the field to win from seventh. In his stakes debut, jockey Carlos Lopez had much better luck getting him out of the gate. He was one of three runners to go for the early lead, which was momentarily taken by Fowl Mouth through an opening quarter-mile in 22.71.
When Our Day Will Come began losing ground on the rail, the picture out in front became clearer and Lopez was quick to take advantage, urging Probably Dreaming past Fowl Mouth to complete the half-mile in 46.51.
The new leader received more pressure almost immediately when Lundi Loot advanced into second with a strong stalking bid. The gelding came within a half-length of the lead entering the stretch, but Lopez had plenty left aboard Probably Dreaming and repelled his only remaining challenger. He completed the six-furlong sprint in 1:11.30 and paid $6.80 to win.
Lundi Loot didn’t offer enough to keep pace with the winner, but he ran on well to finish second for trainer Lynn Ashby. He finished two lengths ahead of Code of Silence, a maiden trained by Timothy Keefe.
Small Wonder Stakes
Jumping the Gun didn’t waste much time putting away weaker rivals in the $100,000 Small Wonder Stakes. After briefly stalking on the backstretch, the undefeated filly made an early move for the lead and kicked clear on the far turn, drawing off to win by 3 3/4 lengths.
In three starts at Delaware Park, Jumping the Gun has won three races by 9 1/2 lengths, cementing her status as the strongest juvenile filly at her home track.
When the juvenile made her stakes debut in the $75,000 Blue Hen at Delaware last month, bettors made her a slightly surprising 4-5 favorite and she delivered to win by 4 1/4 lengths. There were no surprises on Sunday, as the runaway winner went off at 1-9 odds and paid $2.20 to win.
“I was a little nervous before the race with her being 1-9, but once she made that move, all of that went away,” trainer Andrew Simoff said. “The last eighth, she just galloped, which is good because it will keep her healthy.”
Sweet Shenanigans, one of two fillies entered by Gary Capuano, took the early lead and completed the opening quarter-mile in 22.52 seconds. Before the early leader faded back to fifth, however, Jumping the Gun and jockey Julio Hernandez took the advantage from her by force, moving forward from third to take a one-length lead through a half-mile in 46.09. She was already ahead by 3 1/2 lengths when she entered the stretch.
Two closers made late moves for minor prizes, but neither runner seriously challenged Jumping the Gun in a commanding run to the wire. She completed the six-furlong sprint in 1:11.42.
Doc’s Miracle, the other filly trained by Capuano, made a slightly sharper move to finish second by two lengths over Thirst for Hope, a filly trained by Lynn Ashby.
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