Kentucky Derby Radar: Breen regroups with Epic Dreamer

Trainer Kelly Breen considers it “fortunate that our horse looked good this morning” after Epic Dreamer, off as the 6-5 favorite in Sunday night’s $400,000 Springboard Mile, absorbed a shot in the stretch on his way to finishing off the board at Remington Park.

“It could have been a lot worse,” said Breen, who lodged an objection against the runner-up finisher Bankit, who Breen said made “a bold move” under jockey Ricardo Santana that could have impacted Epic Dreamer’s placing.

Stewards dismissed the claim, potentially the difference in Epic Dreamer, a son of Orb, picking up a 2019 Kentucky Derby qualifying point if boosted to fourth, or collecting a piece of the purse if moved to fifth.

Jockey Javier Castellano rode Epic Dreamer, who earned top billing despite a rail draw off an impressive maiden special weight score on Oct. 26 at Belmont Park.

“Not to have any sour grapes about anything,” Breen said, “but if Javier doesn’t alter his course, his comments were, ‘We could have fallen.’”

Now, the Epic Racing charge will regroup, heading back to the Palm Meadows Training Center with no major bumps or bruises. Breen said he’ll look over the upcoming stakes schedules in Florida, then determine when the colt could run next.

“I’m trying to take the positives out of it,” the trainer said. “He got some experience, and we only got beaten 5 1/2 lengths in the worst performance of his life.”

Bankit ran on to finish a head short of catching Springboard Mile winner Long Range Toddy.

The chart indicates that Epic Dreamer “steadied” after bumped and “came up empty in late stretch.” Castellano said his mount was reluctant to go after the contact, “looking around a lot.”

“You have a horse that you have high, high hopes for, and him having to check — you can see on video our horse’s face turning hard to the right to avoid contact,” Breen added. “Something (stewards) might have to consider is the thought of our horse getting hurt.

“He looked really good this morning. He had a lot of energy. All that had gone on didn’t take a lot out of him.”