Memory Bank wins at Tampa Bay Downs in Allowance Company!

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01/05/18 | Tampa, FL – Dare To Dream Stable’s 4 year old gelding, Memory Bank, gutted out a hard fought allowance win on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs on a sunny Friday afternoon in Oldsmar, Florida.  Memory Bank was coming into this race off three consecutive 2nd place finishes, all in tough allowance conditions.  On this day, the handsome chestnut Illinois bred son of Misremembered, who looked like the one to beat on paper in this 1 1/16 mile turf event, would finally get the trip needed to take home the winning purse money.  Breaking from an outside post, which has been the unlucky norm for Memory Bank, Jockey Brian Pedroza hustled the chestnut out of the gate to try and secure a comfortable stalking position without getting hung out too wide.  Pedroza had Memory Bank in 5th about 5 lengths off the pace but only 2-3 wide after the opening 1/4 mile.  As they moved down the backside, the expected pacesetter and second betting choice Trismen looked to be traveling comfortably while holding a 1-2 length lead.  After six furlongs, Memory Bank was still about 5 lengths off the lead and it looked like Pedroza was going to have a lot of work to do to catch Trismen who was still traveling easy on the lead as he looked or his 3rd win in a row on the grass.  When they approached the 2nd turn, Memory Bank was being asked for his run by Pedroza. He responded and started closing the gap on the leader while passing the other few runners who were part of the early pace scenario.  Memory Bank was 3 lengths behind and still had a lot of work to do to reel in the leader Trismen as they completed the bend and straightened for home.  Pedroza vigorously asked Memory Bank for all he had and the gutsy gelding gave it to him, making up ground with every stride.  Even with Memory Bank working hard, it was beginning to look like the finish line might come too quickly as Trismen was proving to be a very worthy adversary.  Memory Bank would not give up without a fight and with a last desperate burst in the closing yards he was able to stick his nose in front right as they crossed the wire to earn the victory!

Memory Bank now has 2 wins, 4 seconds, and a third in 9 career starts with earnings of $62,447.  In his 9 starts, the consistent chestnut gelding has crossed the wire in the top 3 in 8 of those contests as he was unjustly D’qd from another 2nd place finish at Gulfstream Park West 2 starts back. Congratulations to all the Dare To Dream Stable partners who are really enjoying the ride with Memory Bank. Thanks to a great job by trainer Michael Stidham, Hilary Pridham, Ben Trask, and the entire team for keeping Memory Bank in great form and looking fabulous as well!  Finally kudos to Jockey Brian Pedroza who worked his tail off getting Memory Bank to the wire in time, and is winning at close to a 50% clip riding Stidham horses at the meet.

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Golden Story wins at Suffolk Downs for 2nd in a row!

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Dare To Dream Stable’s Golden Story invaded the city of Boston and Suffolk Downs for the second time in a month on September 3rd, and left there with his second consecutive victory in race #2! The 7 year old dark bay gelding by Medaglia D’Oro certainly proved he has taken a liking to the Boston sod, after easily dispatching his nine rivals in this 5 furlong turf dash. Breaking from the tricky rail draw, Jockey Edwin Gonzalez tried to make sure he got Golden Story away swiftly in order to secure a good position to avoid having to go wide and circle the field. While Golden Story did break a tad slow, Gonzalez did a fantastic job rushing Golden Story up the rail and into a decent position. He then waited patiently on the inside while staying close enough until room opened up on the inside. As they went through the turn, there was a clear opening and Gonzalez took advantage and slipped through to gain a clear path straightening for home. He then shifted Golden Story to the 2 path where he set dead aim on the leader Uncle Chato who had wrestled away the lead in upper stretch and opened up a one length lead. Golden Story, with all the momentum, was bearing down on the leader through the stretch and eventually wore down and easily powered by Uncle Chato to cross the wire by a widening 1 1/2 lengths. Golden Story now has back to back victories for the stable after a few tough-luck races to start his 7 yr old campaign earlier this Summer. In his 5 starts this year following a lengthy layoff, he has 2 wins, a second, and a third with earnings of $39,090.00. Golden Story will look for the hat trick when he invades Suffolk Downs again at the end of the month.

Congratulations to the partners on back to back wins from their wily veteran. Thanks to Team Stidham on a fantastic bit of training and getting Golden Story back to the top of his game at age seven. Finally, a congratulations to jockey Edwin Gonzalez who was wearing the Dare To Dream Stable Colors for the first time while giving Golden Story a superb ride!

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Spiced Perfection wins the Generous Portion Stakes at Del Mar!

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Dare To Dream Stable’s 2 year-old filly Spiced Perfection was seeking perfection at at Del Mar, attempting to go 2 for 2 at the famed oval “Where The Turf Meets The Surf” by winning the $100,000 Generous Portion Stakes in race 6. Coming off a maiden special weight score on Del Mar’s Opening Day, the athletic bay daughter of Freshman Stallion Smiling Tiger was looking to tackle a tough field including the heavily favored Stakes winner, Show It N Moe It.  As the starting gate sprung open, jockey Joe Talamo made sure to hustle Spiced Perfection out of there and secure a nice position close to the lead. Talamo kept the filly in a real good spot through the opening quarter, sitting right off pacesetters Little Doe and odds-on favorite Show It N Moe It. As they approached the turn, Spiced Perfection engaged and passed Little Doe and was taking dead aim on the favorite. With Talamo riding confidently, Spiced began to engage the leader while leaving the turn and when they hit the stretch she began to inch away from the favorite and had all the momentum. Spiced Perfection began to draw away from the field as she hit mid-stretch as Show It N Moe It began to weaken. Family Girl was trying to make a late charge from 3rd, but was repelled in deep stretch and Spiced Perfection crossed the wire a comfortable 2 lengths in front of her to secure the Stakes victory. 1-2 favorite Show It N Moe It was another 6 1/4 lengths back in 3rd.

Spiced Perfection has now amassed $110,280.00 in her brief career while winning 2 of her 4 starts to go along with a 2nd and 3rd place finish in her other outings. She will now be pointed to the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile Stakes on Breeders Cup Friday. Congratulations to all the excited Dare To Dream Stable Partners who are enjoying a fantastic ride with this young filly. Winning two races at a Del Mar meeting, let alone a Stakes race, is no easy feet for sure. Kudos to trainer Brian Koriner and his entire staff on a terrific job conditioning “Spicey”, and for seeing improvement in each of her four starts. “Smoking” Joe Talamo has ridden Spiced Perfection just masterfully in her last two starts. Congrats to Joe and we’ll look for the trifecta in her next start!

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Jockamo’s Song win the Louisiana Sprint Cup Stakes at Louisiana Downs!

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Dare To Dream Stable’s Jockamo’s Song did his thing once again, winning another stake race in Louisiana. This time he took his talents to Louisiana Downs for the first time, capturing the $50k Louisiana Cup Sprint Stakes. The champion grey gelding by Half Ours was coming off an impressive win in the $100k Louisiana Legends Sprint Championship at Evangeline Downs last month and was looking to continue his dominance as the best Louisiana Bred sprinter. Jockamo was lining up against 11 rivals in this 6 furlong dash with jockey Gerard “G Money” Melancon back aboard. As usual, Jockamo broke on cue when the gate sprung open, but this time was much closer on the pace than his previous few races. After the first 1/4 mile that was run in 22.97, “Jocko” was second and perched just a half length off the leader Sea Vow. Those top 2 positions didn’t change through the first half mile, although Melancon was sitting chilly on Jockamo while the jockey on Sea Vow was beginning to ask for some more run from his charge.  The duo battled through the turn with Jockamo beginning to assert his class and wear down that rival. When they straightened for home Melancon just shook the reigns and Jockamo began to pull away from the rest of the field. In deep stretch the race was all but over as Jockamo had forged ahead of the rest of the field by 4 lengths and everyone else was battling for second. In the end it was an easy 3 3/4 length victory with Jockamo stopping the clock in 1:10.83. This was Jockamo’s Songs 3rd win for the year from 6 starts and second straight stakes victory. His earnings for the year are $132,450.00 and his career earnings are now at $349,914.00. For his career he’s won 4 stake races and placed in 3 others and has an outstanding career record of 8 wins from 19 starts with 5 more in the money finishes.

Congratulations to all the incredibly happy Dare To Dream Stable partners who are enjoying an amazing ride with this champion. Cheers to trainer Mike Stidham, Hilary Pridham, and the entire team on just an outstanding training job keeping Jockamo in outstanding form for the past couple of years. Thanks to top notch veteran reinsman Gerard  “G Money” Melancon for another terrific and confident ride. He fits Jockamo like a glove and we expect a few more wins with this duo before it’s all said and done.

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Golden Story wins at Suffolk Downs!

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Dare To Dream Stable’s Golden Story made his first trip to the city of Boston and Suffolk Downs a winning one by using the long stretch in a 5 furlong turf sprint to get up in time at the wire. Ridden by Jockey Brian Pedroza for the first time, Golden Story broke alertly and was immediately well-placed, stalking just a few lengths off the leading pack. Pedroza kept that position as they entered the turn where he then swung the Medaglia d’Oro gelding to the outside and began to launch his move around the turn. Once they straightened for home, Golden Story had his sights on the longtime leader Khan Of Khans. That hard-knocking veteran was not going to relinquish the lead without a fight, and Pedroza would need every ounce of that long Suffolk stretch along with Golden Story’s determined effort to get up before they hit the wire. In the end, Golden Story was able to sustain his long stretch drive to nab Khan Of Khans by a neck as they crossed the finish line. It was another 2 1/4 lengths back to the third place finisher.

Congratulations to our Dare To Dream Stable partners on a real nice victory. Also to trainer Mike Stidham and his entire team (Hilary Pridham, Ben Trask and many others) for a fantastic training job. Thanks to jockey Brian Pedroza who was donning the Dare To Dream colors for the first time. Brian had Golden Story in a good spot throughout the race and timed that long stretch drive perfectly! After some time off to end 2016, this was Golden Story’s first victory of 2017 to go along with a second and third in four starts.

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Memory Bank wins at Arlington Park in MSW Company!

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07/20/17 | Arlington Heights, IL – Dare To Dream Stable’s Memory Bank,  a 3 year-old IL Bred gelding by Misremembered, was making only his second career start today after a very encouraging 2nd place finish in his debut in a 1 1/16 mile turf MSW event a couple of weeks ago. This race was originally scheduled for 1 mile on the grass, but a heavy downpour in the morning forced it onto the main Polytrack surface at Arlington Park at a 1 1/16 mile distance. Jockey Mitchell Murrill, who just recently moved his tack back to Arlington Park for the remainder of the meet, was climbing aboard Memory Bank for the first time in a race. The handsome chestnut broke well in this field of 8 runners and Mitchell assumed an inside stalking spot through the clubhouse turn. Mitchell got Memory Bank out in between horses and into a real nice spot on the backside stalking the speedy Bill Mott trained & Juddmonte homebred, Confiscate. At the 5/16th pole, Memory Bank engaged Confiscate and dueled with that foe to the furlong marker where it appeared Mitchell had much more horse left than Confiscate’s rider, Jose Valdivia Jr.. Memory Bank began to edge clear in mid-stretch and in deep stretch easily dispatched with Confiscate to pull clear and win by a widening 2 1/4 lengths at the wire. It was a very impressive and dominant effort by Memory Bank who certainly didn’t mind the switch to polytrack and looks to have a very bright future for Dare To Dream Stable! With the victory and his earlier second place finish, Memory Bank has earnings of $29,120.00 in his 2 starts.

Congratulations again to all the partners on this very impressive victory that was witnessed by many DTD partners that were in attendance at Arlington Park. A great training job by Mike Stidham, Hilary Pridham, Rigo Rosas and the entire team as Memory Bank looks to be another runner on the rise with a bright future. Finally, congrats to regular stable rider Mitchell Murrill, whom it’s very nice to have back at Arlington Park riding for Dare To Dream again! He gave Memory Bank a perfect ride!

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Spiced Perfection Wins MSW on Opening Day at Del Mar!

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07/19/17 | Del Mar, CA – Opening day at Del Mar is a celebration of beauty, fashion, and of course… horses. Dare To Dream Stable’s 2 year-old filly Spiced Perfection gave her connections another reason to celebrate with a beauty of a performance in winning Del Mar’s 9th race on a glorious, sunny opening day! With a crowd of over 40,000 enjoying the opening day festivities at the track “where the turf meets the surf”, Spiced Perfection was all business in the sun-splashed paddock and in the post parade. She never raised a hair and was professional as could be in front of the massive crowd. Spiced Perfection had suffered from troubled trips and disadvantageous outside post draws in her previous 2 races. A little luck finally came her way for today’s race as she ended up further toward the inside in the four hole. As they gate latches sprung open, Jockey Joe Talamo hustled “Spicy” out of there to avoid any traffic issues or wide trips in this 5 furlong dash and put the good-looking daughter of Smiling Tiger into a nice stalking position. The leaders, Helen’s Tiger and Got an Obsession, set the pace through an opening quarter of 22.74 with Talamo stalking from 3rd just 2 lengths off the pair and near the rail. Approaching the turn, Talamo guided Spiced Perfection out into the 3 path where he started to creep up on the leaders. At that point Got an Obsession was beginning to put away Helen’s Tiger who was getting a little leg weary, and it was “game on” as Spicy moved up to engage the new leader. The pair were on even terms at the top of the stretch until Talamo shook the reins and Spiced Perfection gained the lead. Got an Obsession proved to be a tough customer and didn’t go away quietly fighting back, but in the end Spiced Perfection under left handed urging was too tough crossing the wire in front by a half length in a final time of 59.55. It was almost 5 lengths back to the 3rd place finisher and early leader Helen’s Tiger.

Spiced Perfection now has a record of one win, a second, and a third in her three career starts with earnings already over $53,000 in her very young career. Congratulations to all the Dare To Dream Stable partners, many whom were in attendance to celebrate this thrilling victory at one of the most historic race tracks in the country. It was a fantastic training job by Brian Koriner, who was very confident Spicy would come through with a victory. Kudos to Brian and his team on a job well done and for maintaining his outstanding record for Dare To Dream Stable at Del Mar with 4 wins in 5 starts. Congrats to jockey Joe Talamo who rode our filly with confidence knowing all he needed was a clean trip to get the job done.

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Jockamo’s Song Wins The $100,000 Louisiana Legends Sprint Stakes!

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Dare To Dream Stable’s barn stalwart & multiple Stakes winner Jockamo’s Song came through again, notching another stakes score in capturing the $100,000 Louisiana Legends Sprint Championship on Saturday night at Evangeline Downs. This was Jockamo’s Song’s first trip to Evangeline Downs and his first time back on dirt in over a year. With journeyman Gerard “G Money” Melancon riding Jockamo’s Song for the first time, Jockamo broke well out of the gate and Melancon had “Jocko in the second flight about 5 lengths off the leading pack after the opening 1/4 mile in a quick 22.0 flat. As they approached the turn, Melancon began to ask Jockamo for run and he made a quick early move around the turn to challenge the top flight of leaders. Once they straightened for home the classy grey with the heart of a champion had his sights on the lead. He quickly passed a few horses and had dead aim on arch rival Icy Gentleman to his inside. Melancon confidently moved Jockamo right up to the throat latch of Icy Gentleman in deep stretch, and with continued urging put away his rival and edged clear by a comfortable one length at the wire to claim another sprint championship.

This was Jockamo’s Song’s third stakes victory of his career to go along with three other stakes placings. His overall record is now 7 wins, 3 seconds, and 2 thirds from 18 career starts with earnings of $319,914.00. With “Jocko” still at the top of his game, those statistics should only get better in the coming year. Congratulations to all the Dare To Dream partners who have enjoyed quite a ride with this gutsy grey champion with more to come. It was also another fantastic training job by trainer Mike Stidham, Hilary Pridham, and the rest of his great team. Of course, kudos to “G Money”, who gave Jockamo a fantastic ride and looked like he had been riding him his entire career.

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SHE’S GOT THE MOJO Wins at Arlington Park!

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Arlington Heights, IL – June 2, 2017 | Dare To Dream Stable’s 3 year old filly, She’s Got The Mojo sure had “the mojo”, easily dispatching her 8 rivals and breaking her maiden in her 7th career start in race #6 at Arlington Park today. The 3 year-old daughter of Hold Me Back was coming off a tough loss in her last outing where she easily ran her best race, only to finish second losing to a big class dropper from the Rivelli barn. On this glorious sunny afternoon at beautiful Arlington Park, Mojo would be sent off as the overwhelming betting favorite in this 1 1/16 event on the polytrack. As the gates sprung open, jockey Santo Sanjur immediately put Mojo in a perfect stalking position sitting in second, right off the pacesetter. The gorgeous bay filly maintained that position on the backside with Sanjur confidently just waiting for the right moment to push the button and ask Mojo for her run. Right before they reached the bend, Sanjur gave Mojo the que and she immediately swallowed up the pacesetter and drew off. By the time she reached the top of the stretch, the race was essentially over with only the final margin of victory in question. In the end it was an easy 4 3/4 length tally with plenty left in the tank.

Congratulations to all the partners and a special shout out to first time wining owners with Dare To Dream Stable, Luke Bowton and Michael Zawitaj. Congratulations to trainer Mike Stidham, Hilary Pridham, Rigo Rosas and the entire team on a superb job keeping Mojo sharp and ready for back to back top performances. Finally to Jockey Santo Sanjur who had Mojo in the perfect spot from the get go and rode her with supreme confidence.

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REGAL EXPECTATIONS wins at Pimlico!

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Dare To Dream Stable’s Regal Expectations relished the sloppy going and put away his competition in breaking his maiden in his 6th career start. The connections were excited to finally see Regal perform on the turf, unfortunately for the second straight time Mother Nature had her own plan and the race was taken off the sod. With the race scratched down to eight entrants, Regal Expectations broke alertly from his outside post and jockey Jevian Toledo immediately secured a terrific stalking position in second just a few lengths off the longshot leader, Valley Cal. After a half mile that went in 47.84, the bay son of Alex’s Pal inched a bit closer to the pacesetter as they splashed down the backside. When they hit the 3/4 mark, Jevian decided it was time to go and Regal Expectations quickly took command midway into the far turn. Regal opened up an insurmountable 4 length lead into the mid-stretch and had enough left in the tank to cross the wire a comfortable 1 1/2 lengths ahead of his nearest competitor, Big Platinum. It was another 3 3/4 lengths back to the 3rd place finisher.

With the victory, Regal Expectations now has a win and a 3rd in six career starts with earnings of $16,794.00 in his brief career. Congratulations go out to all the Dare To Dream Stable partners on this very gratifying victory. Kudos to trainer Mark Shuman and his entire staff on keeping Regal sharp and ready for a breakthrough performance. Finally to jockey Jevian Toledo who gave a picture perfect ride and had Regal in a great spot from the get go and looking like a winner from the half mile marker to the wire!

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