Red Mile: To Dream On goes out a winner in Kentucky Filly Futurity

It was a long road for To Dream On to finally return to the spotlight. The 2-year-old star from last year with a nearly flawless 8-for-9 record as a rookie could only muster one win in 11 starts entering Sunday’s Kentucky Filly Futurity at the Red Mile.

To Dream On’s fate would not change much in the first of two Futurity heats. Ma Chere Hall left for position and eventually settled in the pocket behind Frau Blucher. In the stretch she angled out and edged away for the 1:52 4/5 victory over Classic Martine and Mistery Woman.

To Dream On would finish only fifth in the field of nine. As luck would have it, three of the nine eligible fillies scratched and left only a field of six with posts decided by finish position.

In the $205,100 final, Shared Past gunned off the wings of the gate with a sizzling 26 4/5 opening quarter. She hardly let up with a 54 2/5 clocking past the half. Meanwhile, To Dream On was on the rim waiting in the wings. She would pick up live cover just before the half from Ma Chere Hall as Shared Past continued to dominate the pace and clocked three quarters in 1:23.

In the stretch, Shared Past desperately tried to find more while Ma Chere Hall edged in with To Dream On. The further down the stretch the threesome went, the more it was obvious that To Dream On was loaded with trot. She swooped past as driver Jimmy Takter waved his whip and pumped his fist in joy.

“She has gone through so much stuff this year. That’s it, she’s done,” said Takter, referring to a decision he made with co-owner Marvin Katz to retire the filly after this start. “She is a super horse, but she didn’t come back the way we were hoping.”

Katz, speaking for the entire ownership group that also includes Al Libfeld and Sam Goldband, showered praise on Takter.

“To get her back to this point, he is just a masterful horseman,” said Katz.

For To Dream On, the daughter of Credit Winner and Satin Pillows ends her career at $975,395 in earnings. She completed the Kentucky Filly Futurity final in 1:52 1/5 and paid $28 to win.