Dream Tree remains undefeated with dominating Las Virgenes win

A year after training Abel Tasman to a win in the Kentucky Oaks, Bob Baffert appears to have a top prospect — maybe the top prospect — for the 2018 race at Churchill Downs, too.

Dream Tree moved her record to 4-for-4 on Sunday at Santa Anita Park, essentially breezing to a win in the Grade 2, $200,000 Las Virgenes Stakes as a 1-5 favorite.

Sitting third into the turn under jockey Drayden Van Dyke, the Uncle Mo filly moved wide when asked through a well-spread field and went unchallenged late. The final time for a mile was 1:39.45, with her winning margin 3 3/4 lengths.

“We’ve been working on her in the mornings and it’s worked out," Vank Dyke said. "I’ve been able to get her to relax and finish well, so what else could you ask for?

“I’m excited about her. Hopefully she stays good and sound and gets even better. I think she will.”

Campaigned by Phoenix Thoroughbred III, Dream Tree entered Sunday having already won Del Mar’s Desi Arnaz Stakes and Los Alamitos’ Grade 1 Starlet. She picked up another 10 Oaks qualifying points with the Las Virgenes victory.

"About two furlongs from home, she knew that was it. It was over," said bloodstock agent Kerri Radcliffe, who signed for the $750,000 prospect as a 2-year-old. "She's such a good filly. 4 from 4, and she just keeps improving."

Radcliffe added that the horse is named after Dream Tree Boulevard, where she was when her New England Patriots won last year's Super Bowl.

"A double would be amazing," she said of New England's Sunday matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles.

It was well back to Exuberance, the Las Virgenes runner-up, who was followed by Steph Being Steph in the field of six.

“I just love the way she sat off those front runners,” Baffert said. “I know she has a lot of speed. I think she’s getting better mentally and she’s relaxing and she brought it at the end.”

Dream Tree is likely to start next in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks run April 7.