Purely a Dream steps out in Bourbonette Oaks
Settling just off the pace early, Purely a Dream launched a move in the far turn and continued on strongly to the wire to upset the Grade 3 Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park, and earn 50 points toward entry into the Kentucky Oaks.
Post time favorite Delphinia was quickest out of the gate, followed by longshot I’mluckysgirl from her outside post. Jenna J came next with Purely a Dream just outside of her in fourth. Gilded Lily came next, followed by Darkwingsoverdubai, Miss O’Hara, Fun, Northwest Bourbon, China Grove, On Her Honor, and Awesome Boss.
By the half mile pole, Purely a Dream had taken over third while Delphinia continued to lead the way. With Luis Saez aboard, Delphinia set rather comfortable fractions. She put the opening quarter up in :23.47 and the half in :46.47.
With a quarter mile left to run, Purely a Dream took her cue and seized the lead and Gilded Lily moved up into second. Purely a Dream put a 3 length gap between herself and her nearest competitor, but at the wire, she was just 2 lengths ahead of stablemate Awesome Boss, who closed from last to get second. Darkwingsoverdubai moved up from mid-pack to nab third, and Gilded Lily hung around for fourth.
China Grove improved to fifth, On Her Honor was sixth, and I’mluckysgirl, Fun, Miss O’Hara, Northwest Bourbon, Delphinia, and Jenna J completed the order of finish.
The winning time was 1:37.40, and the winning margin was 2 lengths.
She was a little hot in the post parade which was a concern, she had been off a while,” said winning jockey Robby Albarado. “She galloped along the first turn, squeezed into contention and made the lead. I just kept on going, at that point, she held off some nice fillies. It's funny how she was foaled on this day, the 25th."
Off 12-1 odds, Purely a Dream paid $27.60, $16.20, and $11.00 for the win. Awesome Boss, pegged at 9-1, returned $11.80 and $6.20 for the place, and Darkwingsoverdubai returned $4.00 for the show off 8-1 odds. The $2 exacta paid $245.60, the $2 trifecta returned $1,869.20, and the $0.10 superfecta was worth $554.71.
By Pure Prize and out of the Bachelor Duke mare Yorksters Girl (IRE), Purely a Dream was bred by James Bredin. Kenny McPeek picked up the filly for $60,000 out of the Keeneland 2015 September Yearling Sale on behalf of current owner Living the Dream Racing 2015, LLC. With today’s victory, her stakes debut, she improved her résumé to 4: 2-1-0 for total purse earnings of $108,292.