Pocahontas Stakes 2016: Sully’s Dream the ‘Best Filly’ Gorder Ever Trained

Pocahontas Stakes 2016: Sully’s Dream the ‘Best Filly’ Gorder Ever Trained by Reinier Macatangay- Track press releases do not always offer interesting quotations to learn from. In this case though, trainer Kellyn Gorder offered lofty praise for the 2-year-old filly Sully’s Dream after she broke her maiden by 12 lengths at Ellis Park in a one-mile maiden race.

According to him, Sully’s Dream is “the best filly he’d ever trained.”

He loves all parts of Sully’s Dream, entered in the $200,000 Pocahontas Stakes (GII) on Saturday at Churchill Downs. The race counts as part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series, meaning the winner gains a fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) at Santa Anita Park.

Sully’s Dream, owned by Ralph Ebert, is the “complete package.”

“It’s everything: Her size, her mind, her stride, she’s pretty cool mentally — she’s fast,” he said. “She’s outworked older horses; she’s outworked young horses.”

Gorder is not the only one impressed. Jockey Robby Albarado mentioned her pedigree.

“Very nice, a lot to like, smart, fast, bred to run all day,” Albarado said.

It is hard to argue with the opinion. Sire Colonel John took the 2008 Travers Stakes (GI) and Santa Anita Derby (GI), and the damsire First Samurai won the 2006 Fountain of Youth Stakes (GII) around two turns.

Drawing the widest post position is disappointing, but it only means Albarado will need to use her speed in order to clear the field in this 1 1/16-mile race. Expect Sully’s Dream to fire big and contend for the win.

If not, well, in a race full of young stakes horses, there are always a couple of promising contenders.

For instance, the rail filly Bling On the Music is attracting attention, especially from Texas racing fans. She owns an undefeated record out of three starts, but the problem is, she competed at lower-tier racetracks and those kind of wins do not always translate at the highest level. She earned a field-high 97 BRIS Speed Rating in the latest win, at … wherever “Arp” is. When the bettor fails to recognize the track, it is a bad sign.

Next to Bling On the Music, Dream Dancing makes her stakes debut for the trusted team of Mark Casse and John Oxley. Florent Geroux picks up the mount, and the filly showed talent at Saratoga breaking her maiden.

No dirt races exist on the record, which may not bother pedigree handicappers who will notice the second dam Beautiful Pleasure captured the 1999 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (GI). Consider the value and make a decision.

Two spots over, Jet Away Sue comes off a maiden win at Ellis Park too for trainer Randy Morse. This $320k Quality Road filly “only” won her race by a little over two lengths, and tries two turns for the first time as well.

In the eighth post position, Ever So Clever attempts to make amends for the flat run in the Adirondack Stakes (GII) at Saratoga, where she finished fifth by double-digit lengths. Previously, she broke her maiden locally by over seven lengths. It would be no surprise to see Ever So Clever rebound for Steve Asmussen.

Daddys Lil Darling also enters after an easy win at Ellis Park, as she coasted home by eight lengths in a one-mile maiden race for trainer Ken McPeek and Normandy Farm. She drew post position nine.

Note the application of Lasix, a positive angle for bettors more often than not.

Gorder holds such high praise of Sully’s Dream. Maybe the promising filly can overcome the initial wide position. Otherwise, Dream Dancing and Daddys Lil Darling should be in good spots to make their winning bids.

The Pocahontas awards qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks (GI), so who knows if one of these horses will return to Churchill next May and compete in the most prestigious race for 3-year-old fillies.