Dreams of Tomorrow Returns to Graded Stakes in G3 Poker

by B. Jason Brooks

Phipps Stable’s homebred Dreams of Tomorrow is returning to graded stakes company for the first time since 2021 on Saturday, June 10th in the 37th running of the grade 3 Poker Stakes, a $200,000 turf race on the Belmont Stakes undercard for ages four years and older covering one mile.

The 6-year-old Speightstown horse will break from post № 4 in a field of 7 with jockey Manuel Franco retraining the mount. Mr. Franco was aboard for his last race, a two-length victory in an $80,000 allowance optional claiming race on May 11th at Belmont Park covering a mile and a sixteenth over the turf. Post time for the fifth race on the card is 1:44 pm Eastern.

From 20 career starts, he has 5 wins and has finished among the top three 13 times, with earnings of more than $340,000. He has had success on the turf at Belmont Park, winning twice and finishing runner-up once from three starts. He earned black type at the age of four, placing in the listed Henry S. Clark Stakes at Pimlico on the 2021 Preakness undercard. His only career start among graded stakes company came in September that year, finishing fourth in the grade 2 Bernard Baruch Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

According to his Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, the start of his five-year-old campaign last year was delayed after he experienced some bone-bruising that took a long time to heal, forcing a layoff of more than nine-months. Since his return, he has won twice from five starts, both wins coming in allowance optional claiming races.

Dreams of Tomorrow is the first foal out of Medaglia d’Oro mare Sabbatical, from the Get Lucky branch of Baby League / La Troienne, one of the most attractive families in the stud book. The family includes grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver as well as grade 1 winners Bluegrass Cat, Callback, Dance Number, Frost Giant, Girolamo, Got Lucky, Numbered Account, Private Account, Rhythm, and Phipps-bred sires Not for Love and Polish Numbers.

Photo: Dreams of Tomorrow in the 2021 Lure Stakes at Saratoga.
©Phipps Stable Fan