Narrowly favored Dreaming of Julia stamped herself as a heavy favorite for the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) this May when she romped to a jaw-dropping 21 3/4-length victory in the $300,000 Gulfstream Oaks (gr. II) this afternoon at Gulfstream Park.
Ridden to victory by John Velazquez, Dreaming of Julia -- who won the Frizette Stakes (gr. I) as a two-year-old last year -- broke cleanly and quickly settled into second place as Live Lively set a respectable pace of :23.43 and :47.18. Cue the Moon and Emollient were tracking them in third and fourth, followed by Original Script and Kimberly Jean.
Following three-quarters of a mile in 1:11.16 seconds, Dreaming of Julia moved up to take command from Live Lively, and then -- in the blink of an eye -- she was five lengths in front. Then ten lengths. Then twelve lengths. Under a hand ride from Velazquez, Dreaming of Julia drew off with remarkable ease to win by an almost unprecedented margin while stopping the clock for nine furlongs in a sharp 1:48.97 seconds.
Live Lively held second by four lengths over Cue the Moon, but was never a match for the winner. Kimberly Jean, Emollient, and Original Script completed the order of finish.
The winner is trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by Stonestreet Stables. A daughter of A.P. Indy out of the Wild Rush mare Dream Rush, Dreaming of Julia has now compiled a record of four wins, a second, and a third from six starts, with earnings of $767,000.
-Keelerman
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