Cal Cup

Benoit Photo
$150,000 TOC/CTT Cal Cup Matron
DREAM OF SUMMER

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 16, 2004) – In a spirited stretch duel, Dream of Summer came back on along the rail to nose out Yearly Report and win Saturday’s $150,000 TOC/CTT California Cup Matron at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.

Dream of Summer is by Siberian Summer, out of the Skywalker mare Mary’s Dream and was bred by owner James Weigel.

In a race that lived up to its exciting buildup, Dream of Summer led the field into the stretch, was passed by Yearly Report, but took the photo for her sixth consecutive win and seventh in nine starts, raising her career earnings of $412,500.

The lightly raced 5-year-old mare was coming off wins in the Grade II A Gleam and the Grade III Rancho Bernardo and making her first attempt at two turns. She is trained by Juan Garcia and was ridden by Mike Smith.

“She sure can go a distance,” said Smith. “The whole key was getting her to relax. At about the eighth pole she took a big, deep breath and just filled herself up with a little more energy and she had enough to hold on. She loves to fight.”

Dream of Summer ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.36. Summer Wind Dancer, third in the race last year, closed for third again. The top three finishers are graded-stakes winners.

“Mike Smith just out-rode everybody and gave our filly too much to do,” said Bob Baffert, Yearly Report’s trainer.