Embolden wins the $100,000 Jamestown Stakes at Colonial Downs on 09/07/19 in race 6!

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09/07/19 | New Kent, VA – Dare To Dream Stable’s ultra-talented 2 yr old colt Embolden once again dazzled and easily put away a field of 9 Virginia Breds in the 100k Jamestown Stakes going 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf at Colonial Downs. On paper, this appeared to be a two-horse race with Embolden and the ballyhooed filly Bella Aurora. The latter had scored a super impressive victory against open company in a turf sprint at Laurel Park last run. Embolden was coming off the easiest of victories in his turf bow last month, winning by over ten lengths. So as expected, this gray son of The Factor would go off as the heavy favorite in his stakes debut. As it turned out, they would run 1-2, but on this day it was all about Embolden who was once again the easiest of winners.

Once again when the gates opened, Embolden was quickest and immediately went to the lead with jockey Trevor McCarthy aboard for the first time. He cruised through an unhurried opening quarter in 22.72 while maintaining a short edge with McCarthy just sitting on the classy gray colt. Like his previous race, The Gray Camanoe tried to take it to Embolden early and once again he shook off that rival with ease as he began to open up on the field. As they straightened for home, there was only one order of business to clean up, and that was to fend off the challenge of Bella Aurora who’s connections must have been hoping that the early pace pressure would take its toll on Embolden and they could surge past in the stretch. Unfortunately for them Embolden had plenty left in the tank, and when the 5-2 second choice tried to move up and engage with “Big E,” McCarthy just shook the reins a bit and easily spurted away without ever being challenged. In deep stretch, McCarthy just sat on the classy champ as he continued to widen his lead and coasted under the wire by 3 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:02.80. It was another 7 1/4 lengths to the 3rd place finisher showing how much the best the top two were, and more astoundingly how much the best Embolden was. With this victory earning him $60,000 Embolden has now made $99,000 in his brief 3 race career. To go along with his 2nd place dirt debut, Embolden is now a perfect 2 for 2 on turf and has a very bright future. It looks like it’s time to test the waters in open stakes company and see if he can take us to the Breeders Cup!

Congratulations to all the happy and excited Dare To Dream Stable partners. With good reason, there is excitement to see where this journey goes next. Kudos to trainer Michael Stidham, Hilary Pridham, Ben Trask, and the entire team. They have been high on Embolden from day one, and he continues to dazzle and improve with each start. Finally to jockey Trevor McCarthy who rode the colt for the first time, but you would never know as he was in complete command from the onset and was all smiles after the race. He compared riding Embolden to driving a Ferrari and said there is still much more in the tank as he never even got close to putting him in full gear.

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Equibase Chart

Star of Kodiak wins MSW on the Turf at Arlington Park in race #5 on 09/07/19!

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09/07/19 | Arlington Heights, IL – Dare To Dream Stable’s improving 3 yr old colt Star Of Kodiak displayed how much he’s improved by easily taking down a tough group of 9 MSW turf sprinters at Arlington Park in race #5 on 09/07/19. Star Of Kodiak was coming off a real nice effort sprinting on the Arlington Polytrack where he finished 2nd after giving up the lead late to a well-meant first-time starter. With that excellent effort behind him, the dark bay son of Ready’s Image was ready for a breakthrough performance. With Jockey Carlos Ulloa aboard again, Star broke just a tad slower than preferred and settled in midpack through the opening stages of the 5 1/2 furlong turf sprint. After the first 1/4 mile which was timed in 22.59, Star of Kodiak was in-between horses about 2 1/2 lengths off the pace. Jockey Ulloa would have to maneuver around some traffic and get Star to the outside before the bend. At that point, Star Of Kodiak launched a stout rally as they approached the quarter pole and came three-wide into the lane. He descended outside of stablemate impeachableoffense in mid-stretch and took the lead at the sixteenth marker gradually pulling away from that rival and crossing the line a widening 1 1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:04.48 for the 5 1/2 furlongs. It was visually an impressive performance by Star Of Kodiak. He didn’t get an ideal trip, yet he and jockey Ulloa made it look somewhat routine in the end. With this maiden score, Star Of Kodiak earned 18k and now has 24k in the bank in his last two starts sprinting after two unsuccessful routes to begin his racing career.

Congratulations to all the Dare To Dream Stable partners for this sweet victory. We’ll look forward to continue sprinting Star Of Kodiak with an expected start at Keeneland on the horizon. It was a terrific training job by Chris Davis, his assistant Mynor Ortiz and the entire staff. Chris has been really patient with Star, and he’s finally learning the mental side to go along with his physical talent. Finally congratulations to jockey Carlos Ulloa who has given Star Of Kodiak two exceptional rides and has a lot of confidence in himself and all the horses he rides. Carlos has a bright future as he secures more live mounts moving forward!

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Equibase Chart

The Gray Blur wins MSW on Arlington Million Day at Arlington Park!

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08/10/19 | Arlington Heights, IL – Dare To Dream Stable’s promising 2 year-old gray colt, The Gray Blur, made his turf debut on The Arlington Million under-card. The Gray Blur was coming off a troubled trip in his debut on the Arlington Park polytrack last month. He showed flashes of talent in that race and was training forwardly leading up to this one mile Maiden Special Weight turf event. The Gray Blur would have the services of world class jockey Florent Geroux aboard this time and donning blinkers for the first time as well. The “Blur” broke from the 7 hole in the field of 9 talented maidens and although he veered out slightly leaving the gate, the master Geroux quickly redirected him to lead the field into the first turn. They continued to lead on the backside as Geroux tried to slow the pace down as much as possible. After an opening quarter mile time of 24.93, Geroux really slowed down that 2nd quarter and the half mile was timed at 51.36 with the talented son of Fast Anna relaxed on a 1 1/2 length lead on favored Flap Jack. The pressure was turned up on the 2nd turn as Flap Jack and jockey Adam Beschizza tried to get a bit closer to The Gray Blur. “Flo” asked The Gray Blur for a bit more and he responded keeping Flap Jack at bay. Flap Jack looked like he almost got on even terms with ”The Blur” as they turned for home, but Blur dug his heels in and repelled that challenge to open up and maintain a 1 length advantage through the stretch. In deep stretch Flo asked The Gray Blur for all he had and showed great determination to hold off Flap Jack and the rest of this talented field of maidens with the final margin of 1/2 length on the wire in a final time of 1.39.88. It was another 1 1/2 lengths to 3rd place finisher and 4 1/2 to fourth. The Gray Blur earned $18,000.00 in taking home the first place money in this $30,000 maiden special weight event.

Congratulations to the throng of Dare To Dream Stable partners who celebrated in the raucous winner’s circle in front of the huge Million Day crowd. It was quite a spectacle! Huge kudos to rising star trainer Chris Davis who did a fantastic job getting The Gray Blur ready.  Chris was confident that this colt would be better on the turf and going two turns, and also added the blinkers for this start. Chris and his assistant Mynor Ortiz are a fantastic team and having a real good Arlington meet. Of course, tons of credit to to jockey Florent Geroux, once again he showed why he’s one of the best around. “Frenchie” rode the “Blur” perfectly and also bagged two other turf wins earlier in the card.

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Equibase Chart

Embolden Wins by 10 Lengths on Opening Night at Colonial Downs!

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08/08/19 | New Kent, VA – Dare To Dream Stable’s 2 year-old colt Embolden stamped himself as a horse to be reckoned with by dominating a field of Maiden Special Weight turf sprinters and winning by a widening 10 lengths, while under wraps in the stretch. Embolden was making the second start of his career after a real nice debut where he ran 2nd at Monmouth Park to a well-meant $300,000 auction horse. This time with a race under his belt, the athletic and regal looking son of The Factor was expected to take care of business. With jockey Paco Lopez aboard again, Embolden broke sharply and immediately went to the front end against his 7 rivals and opened up a short lead. Embolden was cruising through the opening fraction of 22.53 for the opening quarter mile while on a relaxed lead. Approaching the 3/8th’s pole, Embolden was engaged by Great Camanoe and jockey Richard Boucher. That tandem appeared a danger to Embolden, but appearances can be deceiving! Paco Lopez looked over at that rival and just shook the reins and the odds on favorite responded by spurting away to leave Great Camanoe far back in his rear view mirror! From that point on, Embolden was in cruise control and Paco just had him under wraps in the stretch with the margin just widening with each stride. Embolden crossed the wire 10 lengths to the good in a final time of 57.81 for the 5 furlong turf dash. He took home $30,000 for the win and now has $40,000 in earnings after his two starts. It was an ultra impressive performance by Embolden and we now look forward to his stakes debut on September 7th at Colonial Downs in the $100,000 Jamestown Stakes.

Congratulations to the Dare To Dream Stable Partners who are all extremely excited about their colt’s future. What a terrific training job by trainer Michael Stidham and his outstanding staff, (Hilary Pridham, Ben Trask, and the entire team) for having this colt ready for this kind of performance. The barn has always been high on Embolden and expected this type of performance. Additional gratuity to jockey Paco Lopez, who knows how to get his horses to the finish line first. He knew he was on the best horse and rode with confidence.

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Equibase Chart

Memory Bank wins the Black Tie Affair Handicap at Arlington Park!

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07/20/19 | Arlington Heights, IL – Dare To Dream Stable’s Memory Bank became a stake winner by dominating the $75K Black Tie Affair Handicap at Arlington Park in race #8 today. What started out as an extremely hot sunny day in Chicago, suddenly turned into a cool rain soaked late afternoon, causing the Black Tie Affair to be taken off the turf and moved onto Arlington’s Polytrack. With that surface switch, there were a few scratches which moved Memory Bank to the inside post and leaving the race void of much speed. Jockey Mitchell Murrill was given instructions in the paddock to either try to go to the front or sit right off the only true speed horse in Christian C. Murrill was very aggressive in trying to get Memory Bank to the front as the gates opened, but jockey Jose Valdivia aboard Christian C aggressively angled in and cut off Murrill while almost slamming Memory Bank into the rail before the first turn. At that point, Murrill smartly guided Memory Bank to the outside and quickly got on the flank of the leader. Those positions did not change on the backside with Memory Bank always right on the throat latches of Christian C. Approaching the seven sixteenths, Murrill asked Memory Bank for a bit more and collared Christian C who was now under a drive and having trouble keeping up. Memory Bank spurted away and opened up a clear advantage into the top of the stretch. From there on Mitchell just had to keep Memory Bank focused on finishing the job. He did just that, crossing the wire an easy 3 length winner with long shot Hannity finishing second ahead of the tiring Christian C.

With this stake win Memory Bank surpassed $200,000 in career earnings. The consistent 5 yr old chestnut son of Misremembered, who gives his all each and every race, now has 5 wins from his 22 starts. Along with those wins are 7 seconds and 6 thirds, making him an outstanding 18 of 22 in the money with total earnings of $202,876.

Congratulations to all the Dare To Dream Stable partners, many of whom were in attendance for this great victory. It was another fantastic training job by Mike Stidham, Hilary Pridham, Rigo Rosas and the entire Stidham team. Finally kudos to jockey Mitchell Murrill who rode a picture perfect race in guiding Memory Bank to victory. A special congratulations to Mitchell as this was his first stakes victory at Arlington Park! We were fortunate to also be a part of the first stakes victory of his career when he guided Jockamo’s Song to victory at the Fairgrounds back in 2015.

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Equibase Chart

Senor Blanco wins at Arlington Park!

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07/21/19 | Arlington Heights, IL – Dare To Dream Stable’s Senor Blanco capped off a terrific weekend for the stable by drawing off at the top of the stretch and easily dispatched his 6 rivals to cross the wire a comfortable 2 3/4 lengths to the good of his nearest competitor  in winning for the 7th time in his career.  Senor Blanco was coming off a pretty good 3rd place effort in his first race off the claim for Dare To Dream.   This time around Senor Blanco was much sharper and ran like we expected him to when we claimed him in early June.  Once again jockey Mitchell Murrill was aboard Senor Blanco and was told to keep him close before making his move when called upon.  Senor Blanco broke sharply and briefly went to the lead before Murrill allowed long shot Campioni to dictate the pace while he sat off that leader on the backside.  Murrill patiently stayed within one length down the backside just biding his time.  When they approached the 7/16th’s, Murrill and Senor Blanco made a 2 wide move and cruised past Campioni with 3/8th’s of a mile remaining.  He then kicked clear and held sway through the stretch under mild urging to win by 2 3/4 lengths while never really being challenged.  Senor Blanco has now amassed $163,704 in his 27 race career.  Along with his 7 wins, he also has 2 second place finishes and 8 3rd place finishes.  This hard knocking Chosen Deputy Gelding gives you an honest effort just about every time he goes to post.

Congratulations to the Dare To Dream Stable Claiming partnership on this nice claim and victory!  Special mention to Michael & Mary Lou Jassak & Martin O’Connor for their first win with Dare To Dream! It was a great training job by young gun Chris Davis and his trusty assistant Mynor Ortiz, as Senor Blanco was razor sharp for this effort.  Finally to our go to rider Mitchell Murrill who provided us with 2 excellent rides and completing the weekend double with this nice win!

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Equibase Chart

She’s Not Bluffing wins at Belmont Park!

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06/09/19 | Elmont, NY – Dare To Dream Stable’s She’s Not Bluffing finally put it all together and broke her maiden in dominant fashion winning by a geared down 5 1/4 lengths against her 6 overmatched rivals. She’s Not Bluffing was being wheeled back in just 7 days after trying the grass going long in which she had the lead but tired as the 1 1/16th distance just did not suit her. The bay daughter of Verrazano was getting back on dirt and sprinting which looked to be her preferred distance and surface. With jockey Luis Saez aboard, Bluffing broke alertly and assumed a forward position tracking the leaders but always close. Saez hitched up to the front runners as they approached the 3/8th’s pole, and then Bluffing poked her head in front as they turned for home. At that point, Saez just gave Bluffing a tap on the shoulder and it was time to say bye bye to the field. She’s Not Bluffing opened up with each and every stride and by the time they hit deep stretch it was a widening 5 length lead with Bluffing being geared down by Saez. They crossed the wire in a final time of 1:11.53 with the official winning margin of 5 1/4 lengths. Bluffing has now earned $28,855 in her brief 5 race career which also includes a 3rd place finish along with some tough luck trips in a few other races.

Congratulations to all our great Dare To Dream Stable partners on this well deserved victory. Kudos to Robert Falcone Jr. who won his first race for our stable since joining the team toward the end of last year. Robert has done a great job with both horses he’s currently training for Dare To Dream and we expect many more victory’s in the future. Finally to top jockey Luis Saez who rode Bluffing like he knew he was on the best horse. Luis showed why he is considered one of the top jockeys out east and when he’s piloting your horse it gives everybody confidence.

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Equibase Chart

Mistress at Sea sprints to victory at Churchill Downs!

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04/27/19 | Louisville, KY – Dare To Dream Stable’s Mistress At Sea made her first appearance at Churchill Downs a memorable one by taking a compact field of four in a wire to wire victory. It was opening night at the historic Twin Spires oval, and Mistress provided the Dare To Dream Stable partners the thrill of celebrating in the Churchill Down’s winner’s circle. With the field of seven scratched down to four, Mistress would be breaking from the rail in this 6 furlong sprint. As soon as the gates sprung open the diminutive bay daughter of Midshipman broke like a rocket and immediately opened up a two length advantage. Jockey Miguel Mena did a fantastic job of getting Mistress to the front where she likes to be dictating the pace. After setting an opening fraction of 22.22, Mistress was engaged a bit by the speedy Lady Lucy, but Mena didn’t let that foe get close enough as they shook clear. After a half mile, Mistress At Sea continued to maintain a 1-2 length lead over her closest rivals. When they made the bend and turned for home, Mistress maintained a 2 length advantage, and there was only one rival who began closing a bit and looked to have a chance in the deep stretch. Mena roused his filly a bit more and she responded, holding Thea Bee and jockey Adam Beschizza at bay as Mistress crossed the line 1/2 length in front. It was another 5 1/2 lengths back to 3rd place finisher Lady Lucy. This was Mistress At Sea’s 2nd victory in only 4 career starts and her second in three starts to begin her 3 yr old season. She has earnings of $35,010 in her brief career.

Congratulations to all the Dare To Dream Stable partners on this real nice victory in front of 27,000 people on opening night of the Churchill Downs meet. Credit goes out to trainer Danny Werre and Charlena Shenk Werre for a fantastic training job. They have kept the little spitfire happy and healthy since returning to the track earlier in the year. Also kudos to Danny who recorded his first career victory at Churchill Downs as a trainer. Congrats to jockey Miguel Mena who was riding Mistress At Sea for the first time. He rode her perfectly and kept her happy on the front end!

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Equibase Chart

Mistress at Sea wins Maiden Special Weight in gate to wire fashion at Mahoning Valley!

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03/15/19 | Austintown, OH – Dare To Dream Stable’s Mistress At Sea took a field of maidens on a game of catch me if you can and the rest of the field lost.  The diminutive but explosive bay filly was coming off a 6 month layoff after encountering a physical issue in her lone previous start back in early September 2018. Mistress had been training exceptionally well leading up to this 5 1/2 furlong MSW dash at Mahoning Valley, and a performance like this was something we were hoping for. With jockey T.D. Houghton aboard, Mistress At Sea broke sharply and Houghton was intent on getting the bay daughter of Midshipman out to the front. While several others tried to get the jump on Mistress, she was just too quick for them and blazed the trail through a quick opening quarter of 22.29. While only one length up through the quarter, Houghton was sitting on his filly while the jockey of Say It Sweetly, Edgar Paucar, had to really get after his filly to try and keep up. As they went to the turn and Say It Sweetly began to fade out of contention, a new challenger, Hoboken Hustle, rallied to put some more pressure on Mistress At Sea as they straightened for home. The little filly with a big heart would dig in and repel that challenge as well.  T.D. Houghton just kept Mistress focused from there, as she crossed the wire confidently a bit more than a length to the good of Hoboken Hustle while 6 1/4 lengths clear of the 3rd place finisher in a final time of 106.28 on a deep and tiring Mahoning Valley dirt surface. Mistress at Sea earned $13,260 from the $22,100 Maiden Special Weight purse, and the future looks bright for this speedy filly.

Congratulations to all the Dare To Dream Stable partners, many of whom experienced their first win as owners with the stable. Big time kudos to trainer Danny Werre and Charlena Schenk-Werre for an outstanding job both rehabbing Mistress at their Ellada Farm and getting the filly sharp and ready once she was ready to get back into training. Finally to jockey Terry T.D. Houghton who did a fantastic job guiding Mistress gate to wire with the utmost confidence knowing he was on the best and fastest filly. T.D. has now rode back to back winners for Dare To Dream Stable.

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Equibase Chart

He’s No Bull drills allowance field at Mahoning Valley Race Course!

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02/26/19 | Austintown, OH – Dare To Dream Stable’s homebred He’s No Bull took an allowance field virtually wire to wire in capturing the second victory of his young career. Coming off a solid effort at Laurel Park in his previous start where “The Bull” almost took them wire to wire before getting caught in the final 50 yards and finishing 3rd losing by 3/4 lengths. He’s No Bull had been training terrific coming into this race, and was sitting on this type of performance. “The Bull” broke sharply when the gate sprung open, and jockey T.D. Houghton sent the bay son of Haynesfield straight out to the front through the first turn. On the backside, long shot Machinist was intent on getting to the lead and was hustled up by his jockey to get right up next to He’s No Bull and actually putting his nose in front for a brief moment. Jockey Houghton did not panic and sat chilly on his mount, while Machinist’s jockey was having to really get after his horse to keep up with He’s No Bull. Eventually right before the final turn, Machinist had enough and Bull would now have to repel some new challengers from off the pace. As Houghton cut the corner around that second turn and into the stretch, he was now engaged by race favorite Humble Hansen who got within 3/4’s of a length from “The Bull”, but again the athletic gelding was able to fend off that challenge as he approached the deep stretch. The only thing left to do was hold off the closing Arazi Like Move, and He’s No Bull easily fended off that foe to cross the wire in a measured 1 3/4th’s clear of that rival. It was another 2 3/4 lengths to the 3rd place finisher. This was He’s No Bull’s 2nd victory in his 8th start. He also has two 3rd place finishes to go along with those wins, and total earnings of $29,415.

Congratulations go out to all the Dare To Dream Stable partners on this nice allowance win. It was a fantastic training job by Danny Werre who tinkered a bit by taking the blinkers off “The Bull” for the first time, and it sure paid off. Kudos also go out to Charlene Schenck-Werre who does a fantastic job along with Danny in getting all the stable’s horses ready for their best efforts. We always appreciate a good ride, and jockey T. D. Houghton gave us just that! He rode He’s No Bull with total confidence and never panicked when he was being pressured by a few of his rivals at different stages of the race.

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