Dreamfyre winning the Surfer Girl. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Dreamfyre Has Jauregui Dreaming Big
Breeders Cup Notes
“Every time I give her a chance to do something, she’s proved me right.” That’s how conditioner O.J. Jauregui sums up the unbeaten three-race career of his prize filly, Dreamfyre, one of 14 entered in Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).
“I’ve always liked this filly,” said the Northern California conditioner who operates a 25-horse stable. “She’s only surprised me once, though, and that was in her very first start. I had only worked her one time — at 5 furlongs — and put her into a small stakes race against colts at Pleasanton.” Running against winners, she showed the field of seven her heels, scoring a 3-1/2 length victory. “That’s when I knew I had something special,” Jauregui added.
Osbaldo Jauregui, known to all his friends as O.J., has literally grown up around the racetrack, telling everyone he was introduced to the backstretch at the age of 1. His father, Pete, was an exercise rider for many years, and that exposure was all he needed to pursue a life at the racetrack.
O. J. was introduced to Dr. Robert Baker, at the time a renowned veterinary surgeon who established the first private equine surgery in Chino, through an internship program. After two years, Dr. Baker encouraged O.J. to go back to school and pursue an equine medical career. However, O.J. declined, owning to his love of racing and the life on the backstretch and got a job, first as a hot walker and later as stable manager for several successful trainers.
“I paid attention to everyone and tried to learn something,” he stated. “Even though I never worked for Charlie Whittingham, I would see him and ask him questions. He taught me a lot. So did all the people I worked under, like John Sadler, Steve Miyadi, Armando Lage and Bill Spawr.”
O.J. began his own training operation in earnest in late 2005 and saddled his first winner in January of the following year. He has never looked back.
Jauregui is currently having his most productive season, winning at a 24 percent clip. Dreamfyre is a big part of that. All three of the daughters of Flameaway’s wins have come in stakes. After her debut, he “gave her a shot” in the Sorrento Stakes (G3) at Del Mar and she won impressively. For her next start, she was switched to grass and stretched out over two turns, capturing the Surfer Girl Stakes (G3) on the same surface and at the same distance as Friday’s 1-mile race.
“I cross entered her in both grass races (Juvenile Fillies Turf and Juvenile Turf Sprint), because I didn’t know which spot would fit her best,” he added. “When I ran her in the Surfer Girl, I thought if she finished second or third, we’d go in the sprint. But she won it at a mile, so we’re going in the longer race (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf). She has tactical speed, so I think she can rate if they’re going too fast early.
“She really loves to run and is still improving.” Listed at 15-1 on the morning line, Jauregui notes, “It would be a dream to win a Breeders’ Cup race. It’s a very tough race, but I keep giving her a chance, and she continues to overcome the odds.”
