Living the Dream Racing 2015 LLC’s Purely a Dream had a dream trip under jockey Robby Albarado in Saturday’s $100,000 Bourbonette Oaks (G3) and pulled off in the lane before being geared down for a two-length victory.
I’mluckysgirl broke on top but 9-5 favorite Delphinia ranged up to her inside to stick her head in front through splits of :23.47 and :46.47. Purely a Dream was three wide outside of Jenna J and Gilded Lily while behind the dueling front runners.
Heading into the turn, Purely a Dream kicked into high gear and flew past Delphinia and I’mluckysgirl to grab command on the bend. She drew off before Albarado wrapped up on her late to cross under the wire in a final time of 1:37.40 for a mile over the all-weather Polytrack.
Sent off at the 12-1 sixth choice in the 12-filly field, Purely a Dream paid $27.60 in winning her stakes debut. The Kenny McPeek trainee also earned 50 points toward a starting berth in the May 5 Kentucky Oaks (G1), as the Bourbonette Oaks is part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series of points races, but is currently not nominated.
Also not nominated to the Kentucky Oaks is Awesome Boss, Purely a Dream’s stablemate who finished second on Saturday. Though she earned 20 points toward a starting berth in the Run for the Lilies after rallying from last, Awesome Boss would have to be supplemented.
Darkwingsoverdubai is nominated to the Kentucky Oaks, and the 10 points she earned for finishing another half-length back in third in the Bourbonette Oaks saw her debut in 19th on the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard. Gilded Lily wrapped up the superfecta, 4 1/4 lengths behind in fourth, which was good for five points but she would have to be supplemented to make the field.
China Grove, On Her Honor, I’mluckysgirl, Fun, Miss O’Hara, Northwest Bourbon, Delphinia and Jenna J completed the order of finish.
Purely a Dream ran second while making her racing debut at Keeneland last October, then scored when switched to that venue’s grass course 20 days later. The Pure Prize filly tried Churchill Downs’ main track next out on November 26, but was a well-beaten eighth against allowance/optional claimers in that season-ending run.
The chestnut lass returned for her sophomore bow in this spot and improved her record to 4-2-1-0 while bumping her career earnings to $105,952.
Bred in Kentucky by James Bredin, Purely a Dream is the first registered stakes winner out of the winning Bachelor Duke mare Yorksters Girl. This black-type rich female family also includes English and Irish highweight Alflora as well as English, Irish and French champion Ardross.
BOURBONETTE OAKS QUOTES
Robby Albarado, jockey Purely the Dream, winner
“She was a little hot in the post parade, which was a concern – she had been off a while. She galloped along the first turn, squeezed into contention and then 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 (of March 2014).”
Jason Barkley, assistant trainer Delphinia, 11th as 9-5 favorite
“She got a lot of pressure from the horse on the outside (I’mluckysgirl), and they went too fast early. It was just a little too fast for her first time around two turns.”
