A full field of 12 plus three also-eligibles has been entered for the $500,000 One Dreamer Stakes, the feature race Sept. 5 at Kentucky Downs.
The One Dreamer, at one mile and 70 yards on the turf, is for fillies and mares, 3 years old and up, who have not won a stakes race in 2024. Half the purse comes via the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, meaning only Kentucky-breds are eligible for the full $500,000.
The prospect of running for $250,000 was still good enough to draw one Brazilian-bred horse—Bonne Chance Farm's Neverwalkalone, a dual group 1 winner in Argentina—and four European-breds.
Foremost among the overseas-bred contenders is 7-2 morning-line favorite Papilio, winner of the 2023 Appalachian Stakes (G2) at Keeneland for trainer Mark Casse. The 4-year-old daughter of Starspangledbanner also hit the board in the Herecomesthebride (G3T), Regret (G3T), Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1T) and Saratoga Oaks Invitational (G3T) stakes last year.
Owned by D. J. Stable, Medallion Racing, and Parkland Thoroughbreds, Papilio is 1-for-4 in 2024. She won a second-level allowance race at Churchill Downs June 20 but finished off the board in two graded attempts, most recently running sixth in the Matchmaker Stakes (G3T) at Monmouth Park.
Papilio was bumped and steadied at the start of the Matchmaker and she also had her late run hampered by a slow pace set by front-running winner Beaute Cachee, who came back to win the Ballston Spa Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga in her next start employing the same tactics.
Ken Ramsey's Sister Lou Ann, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., is certainly proven at Kentucky Downs, having won the One Dreamer last year. The 5-year-old mare by Frosted won a third-level allowance optional claimer on the turf at Churchill Downs June 22. Her most recent run, a distant fourth in the off-the-turf De La Rose Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, is best forgiven. All four of Sister Lou Ann's career wins have come on turf (3) or synthetic (1).
Jordan V. Wycoff's Anatolian will be making her first start since finishing fourth in the March 30 Orchid Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park. The 5-year-old Not This Time mare also finished second in Gulfstream's The Very One Stakes (G3T) March 2 and third in the La Prevoyante Stakes (G3T) there Jan. 27. She will be shortening up from 1 1/2 miles for trainer Mike Maker.
Woodford Thoroughbreds' Olivia Maralda is a strong contender based on her first two starts in America, in which she closed for second in a second-level allowance race at Keeneland April 20, then finished second again, beaten a half-length by multiple grade 1 winner Anisette, in the Gamely Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anta Park.
The 4-year-old Kodiac filly trained by William Walden will look to rebound from a seventh-place finish in the Matchmaker, where she finished one spot but seven lengths behind Papilio.
Kentucky Downs, Thursday, September 5, 2024, Race 9Entries: Jeff Ruby One Dreamer S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Neverwalkalone (BRZ) Cristian A. Torres 122 Paulo H. Lobo 20/1 2 2Immensitude (FR) Junior Alvarado 122 William I. Mott 15/1 3 3Regal Realm (KY) John R. Velazquez 122 Jonathan Thomas 8/1 4 4Papilio (IRE) Florent Geroux 122 Mark E. Casse 7/2 5 5Sister Lou Ann (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 122 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 9/2 6 6Olivia Maralda (IRE) Luan Machado 122 William Walden 6/1 7 7Safeen (KY) Luis Saez 122 Eddie Kenneally 20/1 8 8Anatolian (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 122 Michael J. Maker 4/1 9 9Stir Crazy (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 122 Michael J. Maker 12/1 10 10Bolivie (IRE) Lanfranco Dettori 122 Brendan P. Walsh 20/1 11 11Angel Nadeshiko (KY) Flavien Prat 122 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 12/1 12 12Hidden Connection (KY) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 122 W. Bret Calhoun 20/1 13 13Lute Warm (KY) Florent Geroux 124 Brittany T. Russell 4/1 14 14She's Lookin Lucky (KY) Axel Concepcion 122 Matt A. Shirer 6/1 15 15Sun Bee (KY) Jorge Ruiz 122 H. Graham Motion 10/1
