V V’s Dream made a statement in her debut at Churchill Downs back in May and did it again Saturday with an 8 3/4-length procession in the $300,000 Pocahontas (G3), which kicked off the 2024 Road to the Kentucky Oaks series.
Favored at 6-5 in a field reduced from nine fillies to six after scratches, V V’s Dream achieved an ideal rating position down the backside as Hot Beach and Youalmosthadme dueled through fractions of :22.83, :45.55, and 1:10.24. V V’s Dream pounced on that tiring pair in upper stretch and drew off under hand encouragement from jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.
Owned by MJM Racing and trained by Kenny McPeek, V V’s Dream covered one mile over a fast track in 1:36.45 and paid $4.40. Youalmosthadme outstayed Hot Beach for second by three parts of a length. The order of finish was rounded out by Courbe, Riperton, and Regal Rumor.
V V’s Dream earned 10 qualifying points toward the 2024 Kentucky Oaks (G1), which will be held at Churchill over 1 1/8 miles on May 3. Youalmosthadme secured five points, Hot Beach three points, Courbe two points, and Riperton one point.
V V’s Dream, who graduated by 6 1/4 lengths going five furlongs at Churchill on May 19, met defeat in her only interim start. Favored at approximately 3-10 in the July 2 Debutante S. at Ellis Park, V V’s Dream finished second by a half-length to Brightwork, who went on to capture the Adirondack (G3) and Spinaway (G1) at Saratoga. V V’s Dream has now earned $297,605.
“She spent the summer in New York training for this race,” assistant trainer Greg Geier said. “It’s been the plan to run here in the Pocahontas and then to the Breeders’ Cup. I don’t see why she wouldn’t improve stretching out in distance after this.”
Bred in Kentucky by Mark Stansell and a $190,000 Keeneland September purchase, V V’s Dream is now the first North American stakes winner sired by 2019 champion male sprinter Mitole. She was reared by Quay, a daughter of Tapit.
