Always Dreaming

Always Dreaming rose from maiden winner to allowance winner and then to Grade 1 stakes winner in spring 2017, emerging as a main Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands contender in the process.

The 3-year-old son of Bodemeister was winless in his two starts as a juvenile during summer 2016, but came back off of a five-month layoff to break his maiden by 11 ½ lengths at Tampa Bay Downs in January. He then romped as the 1-10 favorite in a Gulfstream Park allowance on March 4, setting him up for the Grade 1 Xpressbet.com Florida Derby.

Sent off as the second betting choice at odds of 2.70-1, Always Dreaming had a good stalking trip under John Velazquez and took over in the stretch to win the Florida Derby impressively by five lengths. He earned 100 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby.

A sloppy track couldn't deter Always Dreaming in the 143rd Kentucky Derby, as he settled in second position before clearing the field heading into the homestretch and galloping to a dominant win in the first jewel of the Triple Crown. 

Always Dreaming set the pace in the Preakness Stakes but faded late and finished eighth of 10. He was given a freshening by trainer Todd Pletcher and returned on July 29 in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, in which he finished third. Next, he pressured pacesetter West Coast in the Travers Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets on Aug. 26, only to fade in the far turn and finish ninth. He was then given a break at WinStar Farm before returning to training for his 4-year-old season.

Always Dreaming made his 4-year-old debut on Florida Derby day 2018, running second in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Hardacre Mile. 

Trained by Todd Pletcher for a large owners’ syndicate, Always Dreaming was a $350,000 purchase at the Keeneland September yearling sale. He is out of the Grade 3-winning In Excess mare Above Perfection, and is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Hot Dixie Chick.