Quick Tempo wins the Sugar Bowl Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course on 12/19/20!

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Star of Kodiak wires the field at Arlington Park in race #9 on 09/24/20!

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09/24/20 | Arlington Heights, IL – Dare To Dream Stable’s 4 yr old Star Of Kodiak was looking to get back on track and find his form that he displayed over last fall and winter. Fortunately he had been training well in advance of this one mile turf event, and it all came together as Star really shined on this Sunny afternoon at Arlington Park.

Star Of Kodiak would be breaking from the outside in this full field of eleven turf runners. With this post it was paramount that jockey Jose Lopez hustle Star out and gain a nice position so he wouldn’t be hung out wide into the first turn. Well it worked out better than expected as Star Of Kodiak broke like a rocket and easily gained a ground saving position while inheriting the lead without much effort. They went the opening half mile in 48.99 while Jose had the son of Ready’s Image on a very comfortable 2 length lead. They maintained that advantage on the backside and through the turn, and it never really looked like anybody was really threatening Star. Once they reached the top of the stretch Jose let Star out a notch and he kicked clear rather easily to cross the wire by an emphatic 3 1/2 lengths in a snappy final time of 1:36.87 This was Star Of Kodiak’s third victory in 14 starts. He also has 2 seconds, and 3 thirds to go along with that and career earnings of $107,545.

Congratulations to our trainer Chris Davis and his assistant Mynor Ortiz who enjoyed a pretty terrific day as this win made it a hat trick for the day. Quite an accomplishment as it’s hard enough to win a single race, yet alone three on a day. If that wasn’t impressive enough, our regular rider Jose Lopez also enjoyed a career day winning four races on the 9 race card. Glad we were able to cap off that four bagger with the win aboard Star Of Kodiak. Finally to all our loyal partners a hearty congratulations on this very satisfying victory!

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Merlin’s Song wins allowance at Arlington Park in race #4 on 09/19/20!

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09/19/20 | Arlington Heights, IL – Dare To Dream Stable’s 4 yr old gelding Merlin’s Song proved every step of the way that he was best on this day. The son of Magician (IRE) was coming off a pretty good effort in his previous race, but it was time for him to get back to his winning ways. Merlin’s Song drew the rail in this field of eight other turf allowance competitors.

Regular rider Jose Lopez was aboard Merlin for the third straight start, and was given instructions to hustle Merlin out of the gate to either get the lead or secure a nice stalking position. When the gate sprung open, Merlin was able to get the lead rather easily with no one else really wanting it. From that point it was Jose Lopez’s job to try and control the pace while saving enough for the anticipated stretch duel. Jose did a nice job on the lead as he had Merlin on the lead through an opening half mile in 49.11 while keeping his closest pursuer 1-2 lengths at bay. As they reached the bend, Merlin was confronted on the outside past the 3/8th’s pole by War Chest. Merlin was not fazed as he turned him away and held off all the other closers to cross the wire with a 1/2 length to spare in a final time of 1:37.93 on a turf course rated good.

Congratulations to all our Dare To Dream Stable partners! This was Merlin’s 2nd win out of three starts at the abbreviated Arlington Park meet. It was his third career win to go along with 2 seconds and 3 thirds with earnings of $76,521. It was a fantastic training job by Chris Davis, Mynor Ortiz, and the entire team as Merlin has really started to flourish this summer. Finally Congratulations to Jockey Jose Lopez who is having a fantastic meet and becoming a jockey that is pretty tough to get past once he gets on the lead!

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Quick Tempo wins Maiden Special Weight at Arlington Park in race #5 on 08/20/20!

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08/20/20 | Arlington Heights, IL – Dare To Dream Stable’s Quick Tempo made his debut a winning one in emphatic fashion! Recently purchased at the OBS April sale, this athletic son of Tapizar had been training very forwardly for his debut.

With the field reduced to five after a number of scratches, it was important that Quick Tempo break alertly and get the advantage on the favored even money high priced auction purchase Tightrope trained by Larry Rivelli. When the gates sprung open, jockey Jose Lopez did a fantastic job beating the Rivelli charge to the lead. They blistered through an opening quarter of 21.59 while maintaining a one length lead on Tightrope. As they rounded the turn in this short 4 1/2 furlong dash, Jose gave Quick Tempo a little nudge and he began to kick clear. When they reached the top of the stretch, Quick Tempo was long gone and he just coasted home as Jose gave him one more tap of the crop to cruise home under the wire in a snappy time of 51.59 for the 4 1/2 furlongs. It was quite a debut and it looks like this boy has a bright future ahead of him.

Congratulations to all the DTD partners who received immediate dividends from their OBS purchase. Trainer Chris Davis, assistant Mynor Ortiz, and the entire team did a fantastic job getting this colt ready at first asking. Finally, once again Jose Lopez proved tough to catch once he inherits the lead and continues his terrific Arlington meet.

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Merlin’s Song wins at Arlington Park in race #5 on 08/07/20!

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08/07/20 | Arlington Heights, IL – Dare To Dream Stable’s Merlin’s Song dominated a field of turf runners at Arlington Park. With jockey Jose Lopez aboard, Merlin broke sharply and cleared to lead into the first turn. He continued to set the pace down the backstretch and in the two path on the turn through solid fractions of 24.65, 48.68, and 1:13.27 through 3/4th’s. When they hit the top of the stretch, Merlin’s Song widened the gap and cruised home under the wire by a widening 4 1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:36.97.

Congratulations to all the Dare To Dream Stable partners who were happy to see the son of Magician put together a breakout performance. It was a fantastic training job by Chris Davis, his assistant Mynor Ortiz, and the entire team. Finally to jockey Jose Lopez who piloted Merlin’s Song, and made it look like a stroll in the park while taking them wire to wire.

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Desert Swarm wins at Los Alamitos Race Course on 7/3/20 in race #1

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7/3/20 | Los Alamitos, CA – Dare To Dream Stable’s Desert Swarm absolutely dominated a group of maiden claimers today at Los Alamitos Race Course in the opening race of the day, winning by 7 widening lengths.  Despite hesitating at the start (which has become an unfortunate habit to date), jockey Tiago Pereira got after Desert Swarm right away in order to secure the lead a furlong into the 5.5 furling contest.

Traveling beautifully and looking very comfortable on the lead, Desert Swarm maintained a 2 length advantage through the opening 3 furlongs. Tiago Pereira called on Desert Swarm for some more coming off the turn and he opened up a 4.5 length lead into the top of the stretch with plenty more in the tank. Desert Swarm powered through the stretch to cross the wire a 7 length winner.

Congrats to all the happy Dare To Dream Stable partners as well as trainer Brian Koriner and jockey Tiago Pereira.

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