Colonial: Charlene’s Dream, Giocoso win early graded stakes
Charlene’s Dream was sent straight toward the front, took command into the first turn and never looked back. She drew off late to win Saturday in the 35th running of the Grade 2, $500,000 Beverly D. Stakes at Colonial Downs.
Owned by Domeko Taylor, trained by Ed Moger Jr. and ridden by Javier Castellano, Charlene’s Dream completed the 1 3/16 miles over firm turf in 1:53.74 to win by 1 1/2 lengths over Germany-bred Spanish Eyes.
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In the early stages of the race, Charlene’s Dream and Ireland-bred Be Your Best opened six lengths on Beach Bomb through the stretch run. Into the first turn Charlene’s Dream moved into the lead after a quarter-mile in 23.78 seconds. She maintained the advantage up the backside with Be Your Best tracking just off her hip through a half-mile in 48.30 seconds.
Positions remained unchanged entering the final turn as Castellano tried to slowed the tempo. In mid-stretch Charlene’s Dream repelled Be Your Best’s bid before edging clear to the wire. Spanish Eyes closed late to grab second with Be Your Best holding third. They were followed by Duvet Day, 8-5 favorite Beach Bomb and Chick’s Shadow.
“I tried to watch the replay a couple of times from her last three races,” Castellano said. “It seems like she is the type of horse that doesn’t like to take a hold early part of the race. I let her go, and on the backside I gave her a little bit of a break. (Be Your Best) engaged me at the top of the stretch, but she was able to kick on strongly at the end.”
Charlene’s Dream, sent off at 5-2 in the field of six fillies and mares, returned $7.20 to win.
The Beverly D. was Charlene’s Dream’s sixth victory from 11 starts. The 4-year-old daughter of Qurbaan is out of War Front mare Clara Kelly. She was bred in Texas by Eric and Randi Moreau-Sipiere. Charlene’s Dream’s victory earned her connections $310,000 to boost her career bankroll to $645,374.
Giocoso rides rail to win Secretariat
Giocoso sat the perfect rail trip, cut the corner and powered home to win the $500,000 Secretariat (G2) by a length over Simulate.
With jockey Ben Curtis in the irons, the Keith Desormeaux trainee covered one mile over a firm turf course in 1:35.36 in the race that had eight 3-year-olds.
“The mile was always going to suit him,” Curtis said. “A couple went forward, and I got a beautiful sit. He relaxed beautifully on the back. When the seam came, I had so much horse, I knew he was going to take it. We know he stays, so I had all the boxes ticked.”
Asked to establish forward position behind the leaders into the first turn, Giocoso found himself tucked on the rail in third. Antisocial was to his outside in second, and Maui Strong led the way through opening calls of 23.78 and 48.30 seconds.
Giocoso saved ground through the second turn as Curtis remained patient behind horses. When he saw daylight at the top of the stretch, Curtis asked, and Giocoso punched up the rail gamely to take the lead by the sixteenth pole and hold safe through the wire. Simulate flew late to win the photo for second over Antisocial.
At odds of 9-2, Giocoso returned $11.40, $5.00, and $3.60. With a career record of 10: 3-1-1, the Not This time colt bred in Kentucky and owned by Rocker O Ranch has amassed $524,271 in lifetime earnings.