Leading out of gate, Dreaming of Snow held off the hard-charging stretch bid of champion and 1-2 favorite Wonder Wheel to win the $100,000 Suncoast for 3-year-old fillies Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs.
Ridden by Samy Camacho, Dreaming of Snow defied her 38-1 odds and gamely dug in when Wonder Wheel came calling in the final furlong and won by a neck. She returned $78.
Wonder Wheel, who rated in third early, then fourth under Tyler Gaffalione, launched her rally around the turn and took aim on leader but tired in her season debut.
Julia Shining finished third, 1 1/4 lengths behind Wonder Wheel, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2022.
Dreaming of Snow covered one mile and 70 yards in 1:40.18 on fast track.
The Suncoast is a qualifier for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) in May at Churchill Downs, with the top five finishers earning points on a 20-8-6-4-2 basis.
A Florida-bred daughter of Florida stallion Jess's Dream, Dreaming of Snow tallied her first stakes win and entered off a fourth in her stakes debut in the Gasparilla Jan. 4 at the Oldsmar, Fla. track. Her overall record stands at 3-0-0 from five career starts and $170,850 in earnings. She is campaigned by Team Equistaff LLC and Winning Stables Inc. and trained by Gerald S. Bennett.
Dreaming of Snow's dam is the Old Fashioned mare Snow Fashion. She was bred by Karyn Philipp.
Suncoast Quotes
Trainer Gerald Bennett, winner Dreaming of Snow: “She's been training really well and getting better and better. She went a little backwards during the cold weather, but she blew out like a monster (Feb. 4, four furlongs in :46 flat) and galloped out quick. You had to be on the rail today and I told Samy (Camacho) to put her on the lead, and she kept going. She likes this track, so you can't win it if you're not in it.”
On Wonder Wheel's rally: “I said, 'Put your hands under her, Dear Lord, and carry her on home.' ”
Winning jockey Samy Camacho: “”I know this filly well and when I got on her in the morning for the first time, I told (Bennett) I have to stay on her. She's pretty nice, but I never thought she would run two turns like this. She came back again when Wonder Wheel came to her. I beat Wonder Wheel – WOW! I'm pretty happy.”
Jockey Tyler Gaffalione, runner-up Wonder Wheel: “She was traveling great coming off the layoff. That was my only concern. I tried to wait on her as long as possible, but she just got tired today. Today wasn't the end goal. We've got bigger things ahead.”
Trainer Mark Casse, runner-up Wonder Wheel: “I thought she ran very well. I'm very proud of her. She got a little tired, but she ran good and this sets her up great (for the future).”
The post Road To The Kentucky Oaks: Dreaming Of Snow Upstages Champion Wonder Wheel In 38-1 Suncoast Upset appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
