Dream On looks to be in the right place at the right time for a third straight victory as the 3-year-old takes on seven rivals in the $500,000 Secretariat Stakes (G2) at Colonial Downs on Saturday.
Trained by Mark Casse, Dream On is the class of the field coming off wins in the Woodhaven Stakes at Aqueduct and the Penn Mile Stakes (G3) at Penn National on June 27.
Dream On is the 5-2 morning-line favorite leaving from gate 8 under Javier Castellano, who was aboard Dream On the last two races. A son of Not This Time, Dream On prefers to be up front but just of the leaders.
The 1-mile Secretariat on turf part of the undercard at the Festival of Racing featuring the Arlington Million (G1) and 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan make his turf debut. Also on the card is the $500,000 Beverly D. Stakes (G2).
Both stakes scores for Dream On came at the same mile distance as the Secretariat, and all three of the colt’s wins this year have come with Castellano aboard.
“Now he’s able to react to whatever the situation is. It’s made him a better horse,’’ Casse said. “I give Javier a lot of credit there. Javier knows him really well now because he’s rode him a few times.”
After the Penn Mile, Casse shipped Dream On to the track at New Kent, Virginia, and since then the colt has put in three drills, all bullets.
“As soon as the Penn Mile was over, (Colonial) was where we wanted to go with him,” Casse said. “He’s one of those interesting horses who doesn’t do it fancy. He just wins.”
The second betting choice is 7-2 Maui Strong, a maiden winner in nine career starts. Dale Romans trains the Kitten’s Joy colt who breaks from gate 2 under Victor Cheminaud. Last out, Maui Strong ran fourth in the 1-mile Manila Stakes at Saratoga – beaten a total of two lengths – after setting the pace.
For those who bet horse racing, End of Romance at 5-1 looks to be a strong contender to pull off a surprise. The H. Graham Motion-trained gelding won a 1-mile, 70-yard allowance race at Delaware Park on June 21 and sports a resume of 6-3-0-2. Plus, Hall of Famer John Velazquez has the call from gate 3.
Horseplayers should take note that Castellano, also a Hall of Famer, is 3-for-3 when he pilots Dream On.
It appears Dream On travels well. The colt purchased for $380,000 in 2024, will be racing at a ninth different track in his 10th start.
The rundown:
2024 -- Churchill Downs (9th, June 20), Ellis Park (1st, July 14); Woodbine (2nd, Aug. 23); Woodbine (3rd, Sept. 14), Del Mar (5th, Nov. 1).
2025 – Gulfstream Park (1st, Jan. 11); Tampa Bay Downs (5th, March 8); Aqueduct (1st, April 25); Penn National (1st, June 27).
After starting on the Kentucky Derby (G1) earlier this year – 12th in the Risen Star (G2), 39 lengths behind the winner, and fifth in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) -- Giocoso is back on the turf.
The colt trained by Keith Desormeaux was a credible fifth behind Zulu Kingdom in the American Turf (G1) on the Derby undercard. His two wins in nine starts have both come on the turf.
“I tried to make a Derby horse out of him, but he’s just not as good on dirt,” Desormeaux said. “He’s ready to go for the second half of the year. He’s always been a high-level horse. I expect a big race out of him in the Secretariat.”
1 Giocoso (Ben Curtis, Keith Desormeaux), 6-1
2 Maui Strong (Vincent Cheminaud, Dale Romans), 7-2
3 End of Romance (John Velazquez, H. Graham Motion), 5-1
4 Simulate (Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott), 8-1
5 Antisocial (Luis Saez, Jorge Duarte, Jr.), 10-1
6 Anegada (Tyler Gaffalione, Mike Maker), 12-1
7 Cairo Caper (Victor Carrasco, Phil Schoenthal), 9-2
8 Dream On (Javier Castellano, Mark Casse), 5-2
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
