Safeen ends skid with front-running, record-setting score in One Dreamer

Safeen, who hadn’t won a race in 13 months and finished up the track in her start last season at Kentucky Downs, seized the early lead and never relinquished it capturing the $453,575 One Dreamer Stakes on Thursday.

Safeen, who campaigns for Fergus Galvin and Rebecca Hillen, broke alertly under Luis Saez, carried a substantial lead to the stretch call, and then hung on to win by a head over She’s Lookin Lucky. Trainer Eddie Kenneally, winning his first Kentucky Downs race since 2021, said a wide draw last out at Ellis Park had been Safeen’s undoing there. In her two previous starts, Safeen raced over turf courses labeled good and yielding.

“She got the ground she wanted today,” Kenneally said. “She likes it pretty firm.”

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Pretty firm it was. Safeen was timed in 1:37.45 for one mile and 70 yards, besting the course record of 1:37.84. The official chart lists the run-up in the race at zero feet. The temporary turf rail was set 25 feet out.

Safeen broke a seven-race losing streak, her winless 2024 season getting her into a race open to fillies and mares who hadn’t won a sweepstakes this year. Two seasons ago, she made her career debut at Kentucky Downs, finishing second by a nose.

Kenneally said Safeen likes to lead, and Saez wasted little time making the front. Racing clear through splits of 23.90 and 46.72, Safeen dictated the tempo and kicked for home when Saez asked his mount for more run.

She’s Lookin Lucky, who drew into the race from the also-eligible list, tracked the pace throughout and narrowly missed running down the winner, who paid $26.68. Immensitude finished another length back in third, while 3-1 favorite Sister Lou Ann faded after stalking the leader and finished eighth.

Four-year-old Safeen, bred by Shadwell Farm, is by War Front out of Tafaneen, by Dynaformer, and was sold for just $18,000 at Keeneland’s January sale in 2022. No one could pass her Thursday at Kentucky Downs.

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