Always Dreaming

Michael Iavarone Joins TDN Writers' Room Podcast

When the IEAH stable partnership closed down in 2013, it seemed like the sport had seen the last of its founder, Michael Iavarone. But after four years on the sidelines Iavarone returned as the solo owner of a small group of horses in 2017. Since, he has built his stable into a top outfit, as evidenced by the fact that he will have a starter in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational in O'Connor (Chi) (Boboman) and in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational in Master Piece (Chi) (Mastercraftsman...

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Saudi Crown Punches Ticket to Saudi Cup in Louisiana

FMQ Stables' Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) bossed his five overmatched rivals from the front to take out Saturday's GIII Louisiana S. at the Fair Grounds, a perfect lead-up into the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh in five weeks' time . Appearing for the first time since weakening to 10th behind the Saudi Cup-bound White Abarrio (Race Day) in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic 11 weeks back, the odds-on pop won the break from gate three and set the pace into the first turn as Tenacious...

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Gerry Dilger Equine Foundation Awards Pair Of Scholarships

The Gerry Dilger Equine Scholarship Foundation would like to express its gratitude and appreciation to all its supporters that have contributed to the charity that assists young people starting off in the bloodstock business. Based in Lexington, Kentucky, the foundation commenced its activities just three years ago in memory of County Clare native Gerry Dilger whose Dromoland Farm specialized in successful sales pinhooks and an elite breeding operation with great partners that produced consecutive Kentucky Derby winners Nyquist (Uncle Mo) and Always Dreaming (Bodemeister). However, Gerry was equally renowned as...

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Saturday Preview: Parx Feature Marks Last Major Derby of the Year

For the connections of 11 3-year-olds, the GI Pennsylvania Derby at Parx on Saturday represents a last-ditch effort to pick up an elusive Derby win and while it's not the Derby win most started out the year in search of, the $1 million purse, Grade I status and strong history of past winners makes it a coveted race to win nonetheless. Since Hall of Famer Woody Stephens trained Smarten (Cyane) to earn the inaugural Pennsylvania Derby trophy in 1979, a number of good 3-year-olds have also emerged from the nine-furlong...

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Siena Farm's Anthony Manganaro Passes Away

Anthony Manganaro, the innovative chairman and co-owner of Siena Farm who enjoyed success at the top levels of the racing and breeding businesses, passed away at his summer residence in Saratoga Sunday. One of the co-owners of Flightline (Tapit) and a former member of the Breeders' Cup Board, Manganaro was 79. "Anthony was a great partner," said WinStar Farm President and CEO Elliott Walden. "He had bought in on most of our racehorses over the last few years. He was a man who was never satisfied with the status quo....

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Forte Survives Inquiry in Jim Dandy Thriller

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's champion Forte (Violence) just got up to nail the pacesetting Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) by a nose and had to survive a stewards' inquiry in a roughly run renewal of Saturday's GII Jim Dandy S. in the Saratoga slop. Racing with blinkers for the first time, the 3-4 favorite traveled kindly on the inside in third beneath Irad Ortiz, Jr. as Saudi Crown led the field of five through fractions of :23.93 and :48.10. All dressed up with nowhere to go approaching the quarter...

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Graded Stakes Fireworks Set For Saturday

Ellis Park will host its first Grade I race in its 100-year history Saturday, but there are plenty of other graded stakes scheduled before the Fourth of July at Belmont Park, Delaware Park, Woodbine Racetrack and Gulfstream Park. Here's a rundown of what's on tap. Showdown in Belmont's Dwyer One of two graded stakes on Saturday in Elmont is the GIII Dwyer S. Going a mile, the race pits Fort Bragg (Tapit), who was forced to scratch from the GI Woody Stephens S. by trainer Bob Baffert when the 3-year-old...

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Son Of Maclean's Music Graduates On Debut At Gulfstream

6th-Gulfstream, $43,000, Msw, 6-9, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 1:16.63, gd, 7 3/4 lengths. SECOND I D (c, 3, Maclean's Music--Cowboytakemeaway, by Street Cry {Ire}), the most highly regarded of the first-time starters taking on a field of more experienced maidens at odds of 7-2, pressured Mighty Miracle (Chitu) for the lead through an opening quarter in :22.39. As that rival began to grow weary around the turn, Second I D had plenty left and responded nicely when asked, clearing off down the stretch to hit the wire alone 7 3/4 lengths...

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Saudi Crown Relentless In Churchill Allowance

8th-Churchill Downs, $125,785, Alw, 5-21, (NW1X), 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 1:15.88, ft, 1 3/4 lengths. SAUDI CROWN (c, 3, Always Dreaming--New Narration, by Tapit) was sparkling in his debut Apr. 16 at Keeneland last month when he kicked away by 4 3/4 lengths. That contest included the winner of race seven Sunday afternoon, Briterdayzahead (Girvin), who was third. Looking to clear the next condition here, the 1-2 heavy favorite showed speed early and despite receiving pressure from Sweet Cherry Pie (Twirling Candy) into the far turn--the half was a brisk :45.01--the...

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Always Dreaming Colt Sparkles In Debut At Keeneland

6th-Keeneland, $96,906, Msw, 4-16, 3yo, 6f, 1:10.01, ft, 4 3/4 lengths. SAUDI CROWN (c, 3, Always Dreaming--New Narration, by Tapit), let go at 5-1, chased pacesetting favorite Briterdayzahead (Girvin) while four wide through an opening quarter in :22.29. Some two lengths back following a half in :45.25, the gray colt reeled in the pacesetter with a furlong to run and strode clear with authority to win by 4 3/4 lengths. Wild Thinker (Lord Nelson) chased him home in second, while Briterdayzahead was third. Salde Callaghan purchased Saudi Crown for $45,000...

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Grand Isle Becomes First Stakes Winner For Always Dreaming

 Since breaking his maiden at second asking in a 9 3/4 length gate-to-wire romp at Thistledown July 12, Grand Isle stayed in state-bred company and jumped up to the stakes ranks with a pair of back-to-back second-place efforts in the Hoover S. and the Best of Ohio Cleveland Kindergarten S. Aug. 13. Making his first start since then, and his first start at Mahoning Valley, Saturday's 6-1 shot rated kindly off the early pace from fifth before gradually making up ground up the backstretch run. As room opened along the...

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October 8 Insights: Half to Always Dreaming, Hot Dixie Chick Debuts

2nd-KEE, $100k, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:31p.m. ET Conditioner Brendan Walsh sends out a blue-blooded filly here in HUMBLING (Quality Road), who lays claim to a stellar female family which includes 'TDN Rising Star', GISW (and eventual producer of 'Rising Stars') Hot Dixie Chick (Dixie Union) and GI Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming (Bodemeister). The former has a pair of talented offspring to her credit when counting GISW Pauline's Pearl (Tapit) and GSP Union Jackson (Curlin). Humbling, a $1 million FTSAUG purchase by Jeff Drown and Michael Ryan in 2021,...

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