DEL MAR, Calif.— Trainer Bob Baffert cut one loose Thursday afternoon at Del Mar as a young lass named Fun to Dream ran off and hid from a field of 3-year-old California-bred fillies in the $175,000 Fleet Treat Stakes, finishing up just a shade under 10 lengths to the good.
The daughter of the late champion Arrogate took command turning for home and never looked back under Del Mar’s leading rider, Juan Hernandez, who was winning his meet-leading seventh race in this, the fourth day of the meet. The winner is owned by Jill Baffert, the trainer’s wife, and Connie Paegler of Ft. McDowell, AZ. She earned $99,750.
Finishing second in the seven-panel test was Nick Alexander’s Rose Dawson and third was Connie Swingle, also owned by Alexander.
Fun to Dream ran the distance in 1:22.67 after quick splits of :21.85, :44.59 and 1:09.53. The winner, the race favorite at 11-10, paid $4.20, $2.80 and $2.10 across the board. Rose Dawson returned $5.00 and $2.60, while Connie Swingle paid $2.10 to show.
The track’s .20¢ Single Ticket Pick Six carried over for the fourth straight day and now will go into Friday’s card with a $235,544 carryover to get things started.
First post on Friday is 4 p.m.
JUAN HERNANDEZ (Fun to Dream, winner) – “Bob (trainer Baffert) told me she had really been training good. He said that one filly inside you has a lot of speed, so see what she does and follow her. Then go from there. That’s just how it went. When I asked my filly, she went. Changed leads perfect; it was all good. She’s fast and she was a winner today.”
BOB BAFFERT (Fun to Dream, winner) — “We knew that 3 (Opening Buzz) looked really impressive on paper and really fast, so he was in a good spot, we sat off of her patiently. It was her second out; hopefully we’ll try her in some open company.”
FRACTIONS: :21.85 :44.59 1:09.53 1:22.67
The stakes win was the second at the meet for rider Hernandez, but his first in the Fleet Treat. He now has 17 stakes wins at Del Mar.
The stakes win was the first of the meet for trainer Baffert, but his fourth in the Fleet Treat. He now has a Del Mar record 148 stakes wins.
The winning owners are Jill Baffert of Arcadia and Del Mar, CA and Connie Pageler of Ft. McDowell, AZ.
Del Mar Press Release
Photo: Fun to Dream (Benoit Photo)
