Kentucky Derby 2019 Radar: Dream Maker ‘hasn’t regressed’

Dream Maker, a dominant first-off-the-shelf allowance winner at Fair Grounds, is said to be flourishing in his lead up to the March 9 Tampa Bay Derby (G2). The latest sign came with a half-mile breeze Saturday in 47.80 seconds, fastest of 111 works at the distance.

“He hasn’t regressed from his race at all,” David Carroll, assistant to trainer Mark Casse, said of the 2019 Kentucky Derby hopeful. “He’s just been very professional with what he’s doing.

“…It was just very smooth and very professional,” Carroll added in an interview with Fair Grounds publicity. “The track was a bit quick this morning. He did it in hand and his gallop out was beautiful. He came back — cooled out great. We’re very happy with him.”

Jockey Florent Geroux, who had the call in a Feb. 9 season debut, was also up for the work. Dream Maker won that first level allowance by a widening 8 1/2 lengths in what was his fourth career start and first since Keeneland’s Oct. 7 Breeders’ Futurity (G1), in which he clipped heels leaving the gate as the favorite.

 As for this weekend’s work, “Florent was very impressed with him,” Carroll said. “Right now it’s just a matter of keeping him happy. He’s plenty fit enough. We have a great crew and everyone takes pride in their job. We’re having a good meet and everyone’s in a good mood. All the horses are doing well.”

Dream Maker, by Tapit, is a John Oxley homebred and full brother to Grade 1 turf winner Dream Dancing. He’ll leave town with the Casse barn also in care of War of Will, who has already qualified himself for a trip to Churchill Downs on points and will headline the March 23 Louisiana Derby (G2).

Dream Maker is a potential Tampa Bay Derby favorite, with other headliners in the prospective field Global Campaign, the brother of Bolt d’Oro who’s 2-for-2 at Gulfstream Park; record-setting Pasco Stakes hero Win Win Win; and Well Defined, expected to run back from his victory in Tampa Bay Downs’ Sam F. Davis (G3).