Dreamfyre blazes away to win the Sorrento (Benoit Photo)
Del Mar Press Release
DEL MAR, Calif.— Earlier on the Del Mar 10-race card, Dan Eplin’s Dreamfyre, a winner of a minor stakes at Pleasanton in her career debut July 9, outfooted a field of six rival fillies in the 55th edition of the Grade III Sorrento Stakes and came away a three and a half-length winner under Hector Berrios.
The double-quick daughter of the Kentucky stallion Flameaway made every pole a winner in fast splits, finishing up the six-furlong testing in 1:10.52. The stakes victory was the first at Del Mar for both her owner – Dan Eplin of Livermore, CA – and her trainer – Northern California-based O.J. Jauregui.
“Oh, she’s fast; really fast. I looked at the video (of her first start July 9 at Pleasanton) and I say there’s only one way to go with her – that’s go fast right out of the gate, Berrios said.
“She did everything right. She was good at the gate; good with the break; made the lead on her own. She’s very professional. When we turned for home and I smooched to her, she took right off. She’s a good one.”
The stakes win was the first in the Sorrento for Berrios, but his eighth overall at Del Mar, four this meeting.
Dreamfrye earned a first prize of $120,000 from the total purse of $201,000 and now has career earnings of $165,000.
“She’s fast, I knew it. That’s why I brought her here for the meeting. Usually, I have my barn in Northern California.
“She’s been doing everything right and I expected her to run a very honest race. She got a little breather about the 5/16 going to the quarter pole, so I knew I had a chance. She kicked right in, and she ran really big,” winning trainer Jauregui remarked.
Fractions reflected Dreamfyre’s speediness in :21.34, :45.10 and :57.57 with a final time of 1:10.52.
Finishing second in the Sorrento was race favorite Benedetta, owned by Kaleem Shah. In the third spot, seven and a quarter lengths farther back, was Zedan Racing Stables’ Dua.
Dreamfyre, third choice in the wagering, returned $9.20 to her backers.
The track’s Pick Six wager, which had a guaranteed $1-million payout for any single-ticket winner Saturday, was not hit, meaning its $373,278 carryover will go into tomorrow’s “mandatory payout” day for the popular wager. A potential final prize in the $3-million-plus range is surely possible for the bet on Sunday, which all will be paid out to those with the most number of winners with no carryovers involved.
Racing is back and running at Del Mar Sunday beginning at 2 p.m. The Pick Six wager will be on races 5 through 10.
