Dream Catcher dominates 1000 Guineas with devastating late kick
Dream Catcher (Bern Identity – Double Jeopardy) lived up to her name on Saturday, June 6, 2026, delivering a performance of pure class to capture the 52nd running of the $3.75 million Jamaica 1000 Guineas at Caymanas Park.
In another commanding effort that continues to prove her superiority over her peers, the Jason DaCosta-trained three-year-old bay filly turned the one-mile (1,600m) Classic into a procession once jockey Tevin Foster pressed the button.
Racing in ninth position leaving the half-mile (800m), Dream Catcher looked to have work to do. Traffic loomed. Leaders held sway. Foster didn’t panic.
“I was a bit far behind the leaders because I got a little stop by Charming Chatterbox. However, I didn’t panic. I know this horse very well. I know whenever I ask her to run, she is going to pick it up and she did just that,” Foster said in a post-race interview.
Pick it up she did. Switching to her left lead leaving the half-mile, Dream Catcher accelerated with authority. By the three-furlong marker she was mowing them down. In deep stretch she blew away rivals to win by six lengths, stopping the clock in 1:41.2 with splits of 23.1 x 45.2 x 1:13.0 x 1:27.0.
Owner Vinute Taylor (left) and jockey Tevin Foster celebrate the win by Dream Catcher in the 52nd running of the Jamaica 1000 Guineas Classic on Saturday, June 6, 2026. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
Stablemate Taylor Made, ridden by Robert Halledeen, finished second to give trainer Jason DaCosta the exacta. Giving Thanks, with Reyan Lewis aboard, was third.
“She is as genuine as they come. She does everything right and I am just happy with the effort today,” DaCosta said.
“Always when you are far behind with a lot of horses in front of you and traffic to manoeuvre I was always worried. But when I saw her shoot leaving the three furlong I felt good when I saw her coming,” DaCosta added.
DaCosta was just as pleased with his runner-up.
Dream Catcher (Tevin Foster) easily brushes aside the competition to win the 52nd of the $3.75-million Jamaica 1000 Guineas Classic at Caymanas Park on Saturday, June 6, 2026. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
“Taylor Made did me proud for second place. I really took her task at exercise for her to catch the distance and she did me really proud. Halledeen rode a perfect race on her also,” DaCosta stated.
For Foster, it was another big-race masterclass and another chance to thank those behind the filly.
“First and foremost, I must give thanks to the Almighty, the connections, the owner, the trainer, the groom for giving the opportunity to ride this horse,” he said.
“Leaving the half-mile pole when she switched to her left lead I didn’t ask her for anything and she just gave me a kick and that was that. She is exceptional and she is still improving,” he further said.
It was Dream Catcher’s third consecutive win and fourth win overall from five starts. With the win, she has now positioned herself for possible Triple Crown glory with the Jamaica St Leger set for next month and the Jamaica Derby in August.