Vertical Oak dominates Dream Supreme

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – When it came to Steve Asmussen perhaps running Vertical Oak in the Breeders’ Cup, the Hall of Fame trainer thought discretion the better part of valor.

Citing the longer seven-furlong distance of the BC Filly and Mare Sprint, which was run Saturday at Churchill Downs, Asmussen opted instead for the six-furlong Dream Supreme the following day – and the 4-year-old filly rewarded him with a dominating victory.

“She’s a very fast filly and that was a great effort,” Asmussen said after Vertical Oak carried jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. to a 2 3/4-length triumph in the $101,647 Dream Supreme. “We’re very proud of her.”

Always prominent from her outside post in a field of eight fillies and mares, Vertical Oak took over approaching the quarter-pole before easily turning back a mild stretch bid from Awestruck, who finished another 3 1/2 lengths before Dream Pauline. The winner paid $4.60 as favorite after finishing in 1:09.53 over a fast track.

Vertical Oak, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Giant Oak, now has won eight of 19 starts and $716,595 for owners J. Kirk and Judy Robison. In her previous start, the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America going six furlongs at Keeneland, Vertical Oak was defeated just a length when third in an effort that might have led different connections to run her in the Filly-Mare Sprint. But Asmussen resisted, and the Sunday results speak for themselves.

The $2 exacta (8-3) paid $19.80, the $1 trifecta (8-3-2) returned $32.40, and the 10-cent superfecta (8-3-2-6) was worth $23.55.

Racing resumes Wednesday at Churchill with the start of a five-day week. The 21-day fall meet runs through Nov. 25.