BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred Beth’s Dream had an easy time living up to her 4-5 favoritism Saturday at Gulfstream as she cruised home for a nearly four-length victory in the $71,420 Mo’ Green overnight handicap with jockey Paco Lopez aboard. Trained by Victor Barboza Jr., the Dr. James E. and Virginia Gamble homebred covered the one-turn mile in 1:37.88 on the fast track in defeating six other fillies and mares, 3-years-old and older.
Florida-bred Poiema and jockey Edgar Perez took a clear lead during the early stages of the Mo’ Green, leading Florida-bred Dream Concert and jockey Joe Bravo by a length-and-a-half through a first quarter-mile in a comfortable :23.83. Bravo sent Dream Concert after Poiema going into the far turn as Beth’s Dream remained patient on the rail after finishing the half-mile in :46.66.
Dream Concert took the lead with just more than a quarter mile to run but could not hold off Beth’s Dream, who had swung out three-wide to make her assault.
At the top of the stretch, Beth’s Dream asserted herself with little effort and pulled away from her rivals under little urging from Lopez.
Beth’s Dream finished in 1:36.47 on the fast track and paid $3.80 to win.
Florida-bred Abundancia was second followed in order by Dream Concert, Libban, Poiema, Florida-bred Atomically and Yuki (Chi).
“Victor told me, ‘Paco, the filly has been training really good for today,’” Lopez said. “When I got to the outside, I had plenty of filly.”
Beth’s Dream is by Jess’s Dream out of Gator Brew, by Milwaukee Brew. She is a half-sister to stakes-place Devilish Romance, by Double Diamond Farm stallion First Dude; and Bart’s Dream, by Chitu, who stands at Bridlewood Farm.
Beth’s Dream earned $46,500 to push her career earnings to $345,117. She has now won half of her 14 career races with two seconds and two thirds.
