Classy Dream Catcher lands the Portmore in impressive fashion

DREAM CATCHER, named after classic-winning offsprings of dam sire Legal Process - whose daughter, Alsafra, won the 2008 Triple Crown, afterwards foaling 2015 Jamaica Derby and two-time Diamond Mile winner Seeking My Dream - yesterday outclassed her peers in a second straight Guineas prep, blowing away stablemate TAYLOR MADE by eight and a quarter lengths in the Portmore.

Similar to the April 11 Thornbird Stakes in which she sat fourth, allowing TAYLOR MADE, ANOTHER WOW and VICTORIOUS LINKS to go at each other, 7-2 chance DREAM CATCHER stalked the pace being set by her stablemate, hounded by PIPPA and LEXI LOU this time around.

TAYLOR MADE (Aveenu Malcainu-Another Fury), whose dam lineage is laden with sprinters, shook off impressive debutante winner PIPPA coming off the home turn, while LEXI LOU motored into contention ahead of DREAM CATCHER marking time along the rail but urged to get closer.

It didn’t take more than one crack of the whip from Tevin Foster to have DREAM CATCHER make her move, leaping at the leaders to come off the turn still fourth, but travelling much the better.

Foster afterwards made the snap decision to switch DREAM CATCHER four-wide, avoiding the possibility of a traffic pile-up along the rail. DREAM CATCHER responded by quickening sharply with a second strike of the whip, overhauling TAYLOR MADE fighting off PIPPA a furlong out.

Ridden out by Foster, DREAM CATCHER pulled clear inside the last half-furlong, leaving TAYLOR MADE to rally for second, finishing a nose ahead of LEXI LOU. ANOTHER WOW, the 3-2 favourite and Thornbird Stakes runner-up, finished eighth, an inexplicable performance.

Foster said he was confident, considering DREAM CATCHER was in good spirits after the Thornbird Stakes.

“I rode her and won the other day. She came out of that race pretty good,” he said.

Jason DaCosta described the Bern Identity-Double Jeopardy filly as "improving”, adding, “She looks like she will stay forever. We are just praying she stays healthy and sound.”

Legal Process is also the dam sire of Lady Najariya, whose son, I DREAM AGAIN, won last year’s Jamaica Derby and St Leger.

DREAM CATCHER also has staying pedigree in her female lineage, her mare, Double Jeopardy, foaled by Lady Geetadeo, whose dam, Fiord, won the 1000 Guineas in 1995. Fiord, sired by Exotic Traveler, was the daughter of Milford Sound, winner of the 1990 Jamaica Oaks.

DREAM CATCHER closed a two-timer for DaCosta, whose foreigner, IS THAT A FACT, had to be ridden out by Robert Halledeen to hold off a badly drifting BLUE VINYL to win division one of the Yvonne Mattis Cup at nine furlongs.

Dane Dawkins rode back-to-back Reggae 6 winners before completing a three-timer on the 10-race card, booting home TOM STRONG and COSALIVIN in the fourth and fifth events, respectively, closing his tally in the ninth with a thrilling finish aboard SENSATIONAL SOUL in division two of the Yvonne Mattis Cup, nailing AMERICAN AVIATOR stealing home with Foster.

Racing resumes Saturday before the Labour Day holiday meet, Monday, May 25.