'She Barely Fits In The Starting Gate': Oversized Intrepid Dream Looks For Sixth Straight Win Friday
Intrepid Dream wins the Heavenly Cause Stakes on April 13, 2024
Maryland Jockey Club Photo
When trainer Gary Capuano says that his 6-year-old mare Intrepid Dream is on the large side, you better believe him. The daughter of Jess’s Dream is enormous. And she can run a little bit, too.
The big mare will look to continue an impressive winning streak when she goes in the 31st running of the listed $100,000 Allaire du Pont Distaff Stakes Friday at historic Pimlico Race Course.
The 1 1/8-mile Dupont for fillies and mares 3 and up is among six stakes, three graded, worth $1 million in purses on a spectacular 14-race program headlined by the 100th running of the $300,000 George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan (G2) for 3-year-old fillies, serving as a fitting prelude to Saturday’s 149th Preakness Stakes (G1), Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.
First race post time is 11:30 a.m. EST.
The first thing you notice about Intrepid Dream – other than her record of six wins in seven career starts – is her size. If he were starting an equine football team, Intrepid Dream would be Capuano’s defensive end. Basketball? She would be his power forward.
“She is over 17 hands, closer to 18 hands,” Capuano said. “She is a giant. She barely fits in the starting gate. We put her in the gate with no handlers because there isn’t any room for a handler. She is usually in there by herself and, luckily, she has always been good.”
When asked if Intrepid Dream reminds him of a Clydesdale, Capuano laughed.
“She probably could pull a plow,” he said. “She really is like a teddy bear. She is the kindest horse you would ever be around.”
Intrepid Dream, owned by bred by Paul L. Fowler Jr., also has some talent. She is currently on a five-race winning streak. Intrepid Dream has won both her starts this year, the most recent being a 2 ½-length victory in the Heavenly Cause Stakes at Laurel Park on April 13.
During her streak, she won her races by a combined 21 lengths.
“She has always shown the talent,” Capuano said. “She is just a big, plodding kind of grinding horse and is always determined to get there.”
The du Pont will be the first time that Intrepid Dream has tried 1 1/8 miles. Three of her career wins have come at a mile, two at 1 1/16 miles and one at a mile and 70 yards.
There is no concern that she won’t be able to conquer this new distance.
“You never know until you do it, but she has done everything we have asked her to do,” Capuano said.
Despite being 6 years old, Intrepid Dream has only the seven starts. She raced once as a 2-year-old, twice at 3 and 4 and then was off for a year before returning to the races in March.
“She has just needed some time,” Capuano said. “We have had to space her races but she always comes back. We have put her in some good spots.”
Intrepid Dream will be ridden in the du Pont by Maryland’s leading jockey Jaime Rodriguez for the first time. He replaces Jevian Toledo, who is out for two months after dislocating his collarbone on April 21.
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Among those challenging Intrepid Dream in the du Pont is Julia Shining, trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher and owned by Stonestreet Stables LLC. The 4-year-old daughter of Curlin ran in four graded stakes races last year with her best finish being a second in the Comely (G3) at Aqueduct on Nov. 25. She was also third in the Ashland (G1) at Keeneland last April.
In her first start of 2024, Julia Shining was third in an allowance at Keeneland on April 13. She will be ridden in the du Pont by regular rider Luis Saez.
Also entered is B.C.W. T Ltd.’s Lacie Be Good, trained by Tom Amoss. The 4-year-old daughter of Good Magic has won five of 10 career starts and has won her last five starts dating back to last October.
Shotgun Hottie, owned by Omar Aldabbagh and Jeff Ganje, was last seen finishing fourth in the Apple Blossom (G1) at Oaklawn Park on April 13 for trainer Cherie DeVaux. A daughter of Gun Runner, the 5-year-old mare has five wins, four seconds and two thirds in 18 career starts. Paco Lopez will be aboard.
Also expected is Western Lane, trained by Keri Brion and owned by Rich Spiesman and Second Opinion Stable. The 5-year-old daughter of Candy Ride has three wins, four seconds and three thirds in 16 career starts and will have Victor Carrasco in the irons.
Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez will ride the Michael McCarthy-trained Musical Mischief, a 4-year-old filly by Into Mischief. Owned by Stoneway Farm, Musical Mischief won her only try at 1 1/8 miles by 11 ½ lengths at Churchill Downs last November.
The Ben Colebrook-trained Queen of Missoula is owned by Jeremiah Kane. The 4-year-old daughter of Liam’s Map has three wins in seven career starts.
Cats Inthe Timber, who finished sixth in last year’s Black-Eyed Susan (G2) at Pimlico, will try the du Pont for trainer Brittany Russell and owner Haymarket Farm LLC.
