On this week's episode of In The Stud, we speak with WinStar's Liam O'Rourke about the 2017 Derby winner whose first foals are weanlings of 2020, and we cover the influences that shine through from the top and bottom of the stallion's page.

A 6-year-old son of Bodemeister, Always Dreaming gained notoriety on the Triple Crown trail with a five-length victory in the Grade 1 Florida Derby. That effort sent him off as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby, where he drew clear to prevail by 2 3/4 lengths. He retired with four wins in 11 starts for earnings of $2,415,860.

Always Dreaming is out of the Grade 3-winning In Excess mare Above Perfection, making him a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Hot Dixie Chick and Grade 2 winner Positive Spirit.

The In The Stud video series, put together by our friends at EquiSport Photos, features up-and-coming names in the stallion ranks, with a focus on those whose first foals are weanlings of 2020. Paulick Report bloodstock editor Joe Nevills interviews farm staff about the stallion's appealing qualities and what mares might work best with them, while giving viewers and potential breeders a chance to see the stallion on the walk and on the racetrack.

The post In The Stud Presented By Kentucky Equine Research: Always Dreaming, First Weanlings Of 2020 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The 6-year-old son of Lookin at Lucky finished his on-track career with four wins in 35 starts for earnings of $1,343,188. He raced for owner L & N Racing and trainer Steve Asmussen.

As a 2-year-old, he won the Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes, then rolled off a pair of runner-up efforts in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes and G1 Breeders' Futurity before finishing fourth in the 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita. He punched his ticket to the 2017 Derby with third-place finishes in the G3 Southwest Stakes and G1 Arkansas Derby before running second in the Derby at odds of 33-1 – a feat made even more impressive by the fact that he broke from the dreaded inside post.

The remainder of Lookin at Lee's 3-year-old campaign included a fourth in the Preakness Stakes and a seventh in the Belmont Stakes, and the rest of his season was highlighted by a third in the G3 West Virginia Derby.

Lookin at Lee continued to be a road warrior in his 4-year-old season and beyond, notching a win in Downs At Albuquerque Handicap and a Churchill Downs allowance optional claiming race to go along with stakes places at Sunland Park and Sunray Park.

Bred in Kentucky by Ray Hanson, Lookin at Lee is out of the Grade 3-placed stakes-winning Langfuhr mare Langara Lass, making him a half-brother to multiple Grade 3 winner Blended Citizen and Grade 1-placed stakes winner Battlefield Angel. The latter is herself the dam of Grade 1-placed Manny Wah.

We have officially retired Lookin At Lee from racing. He ran a Breeders Cup, 2nd in the 2017 KY Derby and all three triple crown races while racking up 1.3 million in earnings. What a horse! We hope to stand him in a regional market for 2021.

— Michael Levinson (@mikelevytu) October 21, 2020

The post Kentucky Derby Runner-Up Lookin At Lee Retired; Stud Plans Pending appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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