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KY Derby Winner Always Dreaming to Stand at River Oaks

The son of Bodemeister will stand at River Oaks Farm in Oklahoma.

Always Dreaming at WinStar Farm

Always Dreaming at WinStar Farm

Courtesy of WinStar Farm/Louise E. Reinagel

Always Dreaming , the 2017 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner, has been purchased to continue his stud career in Oklahoma at River Oaks Farm. He will join stallions Revved Up , Caleb's Posse , Wilburn, and Excaper who currently stand there.

In a deal brokered by Chad Schumer, Always Dreaming is set to be the first winner of America's premier classic to stand in Oklahoma. Always Dreaming, a third-crop sire, as of July 29 ranks seventh in his sire class behind Justify , Good Magic , Mendelssohn , City of Light , Oscar Performance , and Bolt d'Oro . He ranks ahead of Collected  and Mo Town .

The 10-year-old son of Bodemeister previously stood at WinStar Farm in Kentucky. In three crops of racing age, he has sired 84 winners, including grade 1 winner Saudi Crown, who was purchased by Faisal Mohammed Al Qahtani for $240,000 out of Top Line Sales' consignment at the Ocala Breeders' Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. He won the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) last year and in his first starts of 2024 won the Louisiana Stakes (G3) and ran third in the Saudi Cup (G1). He has earned more than $2.9 million in purse money.

Other stakes winners sired by Always Dreaming include Tocayo, Grand Isle, and Brittany's Dream.

"Very exciting for Oklahoma breeders to have the opportunity to use such a good-looking Kentucky Derby winner in Always Dreaming," said Schumer.

Always Dreaming was one of the top 3-year-olds in the country in 2017. Having broken his maiden at Tampa Bay Downs that January, he went on to win the Florida Derby (G1) before capturing the Kentucky Derby by 2 3/4 lengths. In the Derby, he defeated many top horses, such as Gunnevera , Practical Joke , Classic Empire, and Girvin . He went on to run third in the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) and second in the Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes (G2). He retired with a 4-2-2 record from 11 starts and earned more than $2.4 million. Always Dreaming entered stud at 4 and stood this year for $5,000. 

Bred by Santa Rosa Partners, Always Dreaming is out of the hard-knocking race mare Above Perfection, who won seven of her 10 starts, including the Las Flores Handicap (G3), and was second in the Prioress Stakes (G1). He is also the half brother to grade 1 winner Hot Dixie Chick (Dixie Union) and grade 2 winner Positive Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile). Hot Dixie Chick is the dam of grade 1 winner Pauline's Pearl and graded-placed stakes winner Union Jackson. Indian Creek sold Positive Spirit to Spendthrift Farm for $1.5 million as a broodmare prospect in Fasig-Tipton's 2020 The November Sale. 

Stud fee is to be determined at a later date.

This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.