Sully's Dream dominates New Orleans Ladies
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
NEW ORLEANS – Practice made perfect Saturday for Sully’s Dream and jockey Gary Stevens, who six days after first getting to know one another in a workout parlayed that experience into a front-running victory in the $50,000 New Orleans Ladies Overnight Stakes at Fair Grounds.
Stevens worked Sully’s Dream last Sunday at Oaklawn Park, where both are based this spring.
“I realized she’s got a real light mouth on her,” Stevens said after using a soft touch to deftly guide Sully’s Dream ($21.80) to defeat seven rivals in the grass race for older females.
“We got along great,” Stevens said.
Sully’s Dream, starting from the outside post, made the top without being pressured, covered the first half-mile in 48.35 seconds, and never was threatened through the lane, prevailing by 4 1/2 lengths over runner-up Vagabond Princess. Mannerly was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third, with 4-5 favorite Mom’s On Strike fourth.
Sully’s Dream completed about 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:42.73.
The victory was the second stakes win this year for Sully’s Dream, who won the Houston Distaff in a similar gate-to-wire performance in January. This win marked the fifth straight time she had won when leading after a half-mile. It can be a different story if she gets headed early.
Sully’s Dream, 4, is a daughter of Colonel John who has now won six times in 17 starts. John A. Ortiz trains her for owners Ralph Ebert, Patrick Waresk, and Michael Waresk. She earned $30,070 on Saturday to increase her career earnings to $190,699.
