Last year's GI Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) returns to action on the GI Florida Derby undercard in the GII Gulfstream Park Hardacre Mile S.
The dark bay, of course, parlayed a five-length decision in the 2017 Florida Derby with a popular win on the First Saturday in May. Little went right for the $350,000 KEESEP yearling graduate in three subsequent starts, however, including a ninth-place finish when last seen in the GI Travers S. at Saratoga Aug. 26.
Fully recovered from a bout with ulcers, Always Dreaming boasts a series of eight workouts at Palm Beach Downs, including a half-mile bullet in :48 4/5 (1/30) Mar. 24.
“He's really matured from three to four,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He's filled out and looks great. He's been training well. Anytime you have a Derby winner you always want them to be fit and ready to run well when you bring them back. Hopefully, we've been able to do it.”
The main opposition for Always Dreaming will come from 'TDN Rising Star' Irish War Cry (Curlin). A winner of last year's GII Holy Bull S. over this course, the 2017 GI Belmont S. runner-up kicked off his 4-year-old campaign with a second-place finish in the GIII Hal's Hope S. in Hallandale Feb. 24.
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