BY BROCK SHERIDAN

A Florida-bred Thoroughbred filly stands confidently in her pasture. Her baby bay coat is starting to shed, and one of her ears is cocked, listening curiously to something behind her. A lush tree line dotted with Florida Spanish oak trees and a wooden fence frame the backdrop. (Photo: ©Tandra Downs)

2026 f. Doppelganger – I’m Always Hopeful (©Tandra Downs)

This confident-looking daughter of Pleasant Acres Stallions’ Doppelganger strikes a pose at Pleasant Acres Farm. Out of the placed Arch mare I’m Always Hopeful, the filly was born March 30 and was bred in Florida by Lott’s Creek of Statesboro, Georgia and Christine Jones of Reddick, Florida.

This is the ninth foal for I’m Always Hopeful, whose six starters have all been winners including Nakamura, by Animal Kingdom, who in 2019 was second in the Sycamore (G3) at Keeneland and third in the Listed Japan Cup at Laurel Park. Nakamura was also third in the following year’s TVG Elkhorn (G2) at Keeneland.

I’m Always Hopeful has an unnamed 3-year-old filly by Knicks Go and an unnamed 2-year-old filly by Golden Pal, both bred in Florida by Lotts Creek and Jones.

Out of the Grade 3-placed, stakes-winning Irgun mare Gal On the Go, I’m Always Hopeful is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winner and Grade 1-producer Social Queen and Grade 1-producer Passe.

Return to the July 16 issue of Wire to Wire