The first jewel of the Triple Crown is here, and all roads lead through Dream Catcher. Sixteen native-bred, three-year-old fillies line up for this afternoon’s $3.75-million 1000 Guineas at Caymanas Park, but the mile Classic has the feel of a race against one horse.

Dream Catcher doesn’t just enter as the favourite. She enters as the standard. Two starts back in the Thornbird Stakes, she announced herself with a demolition. Last time in The Portmore on May 10, she did it again. Relaxed off the pace over seven and a half furlongs (1,500m), she moved into fourth on the turn and exploded in the stretch to win by 8 ¼ lengths in 1:34.3. The rest were chasing shadows. If she brings that to a mile, the Guineas trophy is already halfway to her stall.

But Classics aren’t run on paper. Taylor Made knows that. She looked a winner in The Portmore after stalking the leaders and striking the front on the turn. Then Dream Catcher blew past. That second-place run proved Taylor Made belongs at this level, and with the extra furlong to work with, she’s the most credible threat to turn the tables.

Lexi Lou brings heart to the fight. She pressed the pace in The Portmore and refused to quit, digging in late for third. She couldn’t go with the top two, but her toughness over a trip keeps her in the exacta conversation.

Minnehaha needs luck, but has the motor. Hampered at the break in the Monday Morning Trophy on May 23, she still rallied for fourth over seven furlongs (1,400m) before being promoted to third after
Charming Chaterbox was disqualified. With a clean break today, she’s good enough to crash the party.

The Guineas always has a surprise, and Social Storm fits the profile. She made a big impression winning first time out on March 29 and has been working strongly since. Stepping straight into stakes company is a leap, but talent has a way of showing up on Classic day.

Another Wow burned her backers in The Portmore. Sent off favourite, she trailed early and finished well beaten. But her morning works say that wasn’t her. If the real Another Wow shows up, she’ll be flying late.

Pipa and Tia Maria are lightly raced with room to grow. Pipa stayed in touch until the final furlong in The Portmore before tiring in just her second start. Tia Maria came off a layoff to finish sixth in the Monday Morning Trophy and will strip fitter for the run. Both are live for the trifecta if they take a step forward.

Giving Thanks has underachieved but is flashing speed in the mornings. Connections expect a turnaround. Sky Is The Limit was outpaced early in The Portmore but kept grinding to take fourth. She always shows up, and that counts for the lower slots.

Awesome Kitty won last time but meets much deeper water here. Charming Chaterbox lost third to fourth via disqualification last out and looks outgunned. Gulfstream Cat, Aliya’s Will, Austoa, and Victorious Links would need a miracle to win.

It starts with Dream Catcher. If she runs her race, she wins. The real story is for second. Taylor Made has the form, Lexi Lou has the grit, Minnehaha has the kick with luck, and Social Storm has the unknown upside. Sixteen go to post 5:50 pm over one mile. One filly towers over them. The rest are chasing history, and a place in the Guineas frame.

Ones to watch

Race 1)
Press Conference/Smart Trick/The Real Identity

Race 2)
Pepper Stepper/Phenomenal Power/Purosangue

Race 3) J
on P/Buzz Assault/Waeryourhonor

Race 4)
Formalist/Humilty/Total Velocity

Race 5)
Princess Fiannie/Ballistic Missile/Lucy On The Go

Race 6)
Life is Life/Hickory Slim/Riches to Rags

Race 7)
Himaya/Password/Blitz Strike

Race 8)
Awesome Emma/Call Her Norray/Delta Gamma

Race 9)
Following Waves/Civic Illusion/Cherimari

Race 10)
Nautical Star/Legacy Isle/Funcaandun

Race 11)
Dream Catcher/Tia Maria/Another Wow