Dream Catcher dominant again; powers to 8¼-length Portmore win
DREAM Catcher is not a one-race wonder. The bay filly proved her recent Thornbird Stakes romp was the real deal, repeating the performance with a commanding 8¼-length victory in Sunday’s Portmore Stakes, the final major prep before the Classic races.
Trained by Jason DaCosta and ridden with patience by Tevin Foster, Dream Catcher sat off the pace for most of the seven-and-half-furlong (1,500m) contest before unleashing a devastating kick in deep stretch at Caymanas Park.
She turned for home in fourth place and swept past rivals like they were standing still, winning going away in 1:34.3 (23.0 x 46.0 x 1:13.4 x 1:27.1) and leaving no doubt about who rules the fillies’ division. Stablemate Taylor Made ran on for second under Robert Halledeen, while Lexi Lou held third for Dane Dawkins.
With back-to-back stakes wins over the same crop, Dream Catcher has now locked in her spot as the firm favourite for the 1000 Guineas. The way she’s winning, it’ll take something special to beat her on Classic day.
It was the second winner for DaCosta who had earlier saddled Is That A Fact (Halldeen) in Division 1 of the Yvonne Mattis Cup.
Dawkins was not to be left out of the celebration party as he booted home three winners on the 10-race card. Dawkins won aboard Tom Strong for trainer Patrick Lynch in the fourth race, Cosalivin for trainer Oral Hayden in the fifth race, and Sensational Soul for trainer Gary Subratie in Division 11 of the Yvonne Mattis Cup.
Racing is continue on Saturday.