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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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Star of Kodiak wins at Keeneland Race Course on 10/19/19 in race #10

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10/19/19 | Lexington, KY – Dare To Dream Stable’s Star of Kodiak may not have shocked his connections, but he sure shocked the betting public at Keeneland today in race #10! The 3-year-old son of Ready’s Image used a powerful, sweeping move to circle a tough field of allowance horses and out finish the favored Chad Brown trainee Sayyaff to win the 5 1/2 furlong turf event at odds of 23-1. Star of Kodiak was coming off an ultra-impressive maiden victory in his first start on the grass at Arlington Park last time out. Dare To Dream Stable’s trainer Chris Davis was pretty confident that “Star” would take another move forward based on how he was training and boy was Chris right.

In a full field of 12 in the $73,000 allowance event, Star of Kodiak drew the outside 11 post under the guidance of regular stable rider Mitchell Murrill. The handsome dark bay son of Ready’s Image broke beautifully. He immediately was put in a terrific position by Murrill outside the leading pack in the clear. After the opening quarter, which was run in 22.0 flat, Star of Kodiak was in 6th but just a few lengths off the leaders. With seemingly a ton of momentum, Murrill swung “Star” into the six path in the turn. When they completed the turn, Murrill got after Star, who started picking off horses one by one and set his sights on the favored Sayyaff who had built up a two-length lead. Star of Kodiak continued to rally down the lane and drove past Sayyaff in the final stages to be 3/4 clear at the wire in a snappy final time of 1:03.10. It was another 2 1/2 lengths to the 3rd place finisher. This was Star of Kodiak’s 2nd victory to go along with a second-place finish in five starts with earnings of $60,780.

A big hearty congrats to all the happy partners, many of whom took advantage of the generous odds to leave them all a little wealthier than when they woke up that morning. Kudos to young gun trainer Chris Davis, his assistant Mynor Ortiz, and the entire staff on an incredible training job. Star of Kodiak has really progressed over the past few months and now has a very bright future, including some forays into stakes company. Finally, to our guy Mitchell Murrill who once again gave us a terrific ride and was very confident in “Star” after working him the past two times in the morning. Mitchell rode a picture-perfect race and showed again he can ride with the best of them.

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Rainbow Warrior wins at Penn National Race Course on 10/12/19 in race #8

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10/12/19 | Grantville, PA – Dare To Dream Stable’s improving 3 yr old filly Rainbow Warrior is starting to figure it out and has become a very competitive racehorse. After a recent tough loss by a half-length, and then an easy maiden score, Rainbow Warrior was seeking her second consecutive victory at Penn National Race Course. Facing winners for the first time, Rainbow Warrior would go to post as the clear 8/5 favorite in a 9 horse field of routers. Once again, jockey Julio Hernandez would be aboard the gorgeous chestnut daughter of Verrazano. “The Warrior broke well, and Hernandez had Rainbow Warrior stalking the early leader while being 2 wide. “The Warrior” remained in a great spot on the backside right on the throat latches of leader On Magic Wings. At the 3/4’s marker, Hernandez decide it was time to go and went right by the leader. Midway through the turn, she started to take command, and once they reached the stretch, it was game over! Rainbow Warrior drew off under brisk urging to cross the wire in dominant fashion by a widening 7 lengths to score back to back victories. “The Warrior” now has 2 wins and 2 third-place finishes in her 8 race career.

Congratulations to all Dare To Dream Stable partners who have patiently waited for Rainbow Warrior to figure it out, and their patience is now being rewarded. Another fantastic training job by Mike Stidham, Hilary Pridham, Ben Trask, and the entire team for getting the most out of Rainbow Warrior. Finally, to jockey Julio Hernandez who has developed an excellent relationship with “The Warrior” riding her to back to back victories and making them look easy!

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Hold My Call wins at Belmont Park on 10/05/19 in race #2!

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10/05/19 | Elmont, NY – Dare To Dream Stable’s 2 yr old NY bred colt Hold My Call left a field of 8 maiden sprinters in his dust in scoring the first win of his young career at Belmont Park. Hold My Call was coming off back to back 4th place finishes while flashing his early speed before tiring in the final furlong. This time with blinkers added for this sprint Hold My Call would have none of that. The stunning chestnut colt by Hold Me Back broke sharply, and jockey Luis Saez put Hold My Call right into the race from the get-go. Saez had Hold My Call sitting 2nd just off the pace while being confidently ridden. At the five-sixteenths marker, he took charge leaving that station and responded well when Saez asked the chestnut for his best. In the stretch, the race was over, and it was just a matter of how many lengths Hold My Call would win by. Deep down the lane, Saez was in cruise control, and hand rode Hold My Call to the wire winning by a comfortable 4 lengths over second-place finisher Blues City. With this victory, Hold My Call has earnings of $33,700 in his brief career.

Congratulations to the Dare To Dream Stable Partners on this excellent maiden victory. Kudos to trainer Robert Falcone Jr. and his entire team for a fabulous job getting Hold My Call ready for a peak performance. He made a nice equipment change adding blinkers for this race, and that was a key factor in getting the best effort out of the colt. Finally, to outstanding jockey Luis Saez who once again showed why he is regarded as one of the top jockeys in the country. When Saez gets a horse to the front, it usually game over, and that’s what happened on this day!

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Rainbow Warrior wins at Penn National Race Course on 09/19/19 in race #7

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09/19/19 | Grantville, PA – Dare To Dream Stable’s 3-year-old filly Rainbow Warrior broke through the maiden ranks with a gutty victory at Penn National Race Course. Rainbow Warrior was coming off her previous best effort and one that should have been a winning one last time out at Monmouth Park. Unfortunately, she just got beat at the wire after setting the pace and battling from start to finish to lose by 1/2 length. This time around, “The Warrior” would settle for nothing less other than a victory! The stunning chestnut daughter of Verrazano would go off odds on in the 6 horse field going 1 1/16 miles on the dirt. With jockey Julio Hernandez aboard, Rainbow Warrior broke alertly and was put in a stalking position around the first turn. Hernandez remained in that position on the backside never more than two lengths off the leading pair after moderate splits of 24.60 and 49.40 through a half-mile. Hernandez and “The Warrior” began to creep up through three quarters timed in 1:14.67 as she was now only a measured length off the leader Big Shot. On the final turn, Hernandez moved three-wide into the last bend and engaged with Big Shot. As they turned for home, Rainbow Warrior was carried out in the stretch as Big Shot bore out badly forcing Rainbow Warrior far out through the sixteenth. There was then quite a bit of bumping through deep stretch to the wire with Rainbow Warrior gallantly fighting and out finishing Big Shot to the finish by a neck. It was quite an effort from “The Warrior” considering she was interfered with several times. She almost certainly would have been moved up via DQ but showed immense determination to get the job done and not leave it up to the stewards. Along with this first score, Rainbow Warrior has 2 third-place finishes in her seven-race career.

Congratulations to the partners on this sweet victory. Also, congrats to trainer Mike Stidham, Hilary Pridham, Ben Trask, and the entire team. Rainbow Warrior has really improved from her 2-year-old season and has shown she wants to be a racehorse and win races. Thanks to jockey Julio Hernandez who was riding for Dare To Dream Stable for the first time, and made it a terrific debut. He rode with high confidence and knew he was on the best horse and made sure it didn’t come down to a stewards decision.

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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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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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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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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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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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Events

PHARAOH’S KITTEN – Arlington Park race #7

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Dare To Dream Stable’s PHARAOH’S KITTEN runs at Arlington Park in race 7. Christopher Davis trains and Jose Lopez is the jockey.

MERLIN’S SONG – Arlington Park race #5

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Dare To Dream Stable’s MERLIN’S SONG runs at Arlington Park in race 5. Christopher Davis trains and Jose Lopez is the jockey.