Purely a Dream Earns Trip to Kentucky Oaks with G3 Bourbonette Win

FLORENCE, KY – Purely a Dream sat comfortably outside and off the pace in the Grade 3, $100,000 Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park on Saturday before rocketing past the leaders at the top of the turn and going on to win the 1 mile test for 3-year-old fillies by two lengths.  Her final time was 1:37.40.

The win gives Purely a Dream her first stakes trophy and 50 points toward a place in the Kentucky Oaks gate.

“She was a little hot in the post parade, which was a concern—she had been off a while,” said winning jockey Robby Albarado.  “She galloped along the first turn, squeezed into contention, and then made the lead.  I just kept on going at that point.  She held off some nice fillies.  It’s funny, she was foaled on this day, the 25th [of March 2014].”

Her stablemate, Awesome Boss, closed from last to be second and earn 20 points toward the Kentucky Oaks, giving trainer Kenny McPeek the Bourbonette exacta.  Another half-length back was Darkwingsoverdubai, who earned 10 points.  Gilded Lily was fourth, good for five points.

“My trip was brutal,” said Awesome Boss jockey Channing Hill.  “She caught me off guard a little bit by not being more forwardly placed.  Obviously, they went fast, but she’s usually quicker than that.  I think the kickback got her a little bit today.  She was back there, not happy getting hit with that kickback.  The move she made, you have not seen a run like that today.  It’s been a good speed-favoring track, and it felt like she was a good 25 lengths back, and then to get beat a length, and to her stablemate.  When I rode her the first time, she was starting to figure it out; last time, I thought I was going to win by one or two and she won by 7.  Today, she really impressed me, making up that much ground, splitting horses, and doing everything I asked.  She got a little tired real late, but she ran fantastic.  The experience of this race will be great for her going forward.”

The 9-5 post time favorite, Delphinia, set the :23.47 and :46.47 pace before fading to finish next to last.

“She got a lot of pressure from the horse on the outside (I’mluckysgirl), and they went too fast early,” said Jason Barkley, assistant to trainer Wesley Ward.  “It was just a little too fast for her first time around two turns.”

China Grove was fifth, followed by On Her Honor, I’mluckysgirl, Fun, Miss O’Hara, Northwest Bourbon, Delphinia, and Jenna J.

Purely a Dream is owned by Living the Dream Racing 2015 LLC.  Bred in Kentucky by James Bredin, she is by Pure Prize out of the Bachelor Duke mare Yorksters Girl (IRE).  Her record stands now at 2-1-0 in four starts for purse earnings of $105,952.

Off at 12-1, Purely a Dream returned $27.60, $16.20, and $11.  Awesome Boss brought back $11.80 and $6.20, while Darkwingsoverdubai paid $4 to show.

Turfway Park