BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Dr. Carolin Von Rosenberg’s homebred Dreaming of Abba returns to black-type competition with her consistent credentials Saturday in the $100,000 Violet Stakes at Monmouth Park. Trained by Kathleen O’Connell, the Florida-bred daughter of Fast Anna is one of seven fillies and mares, 3-years-old and older, set to go a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf.

Dreaming of Abba has finished in the top three in 10 of her 15 lifetime starts but looks for her first win since taking a first-level allowance race going a mile on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs on April 19. She was then sixth in the $102,000 Miss Liberty won by Spaliday going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the Monmouth Park turf on May 25 before O’Connell gave her a 90 break.

 

Dreaming of Abba returned on Aug. 21 on the grass at Colonial Downs, finishing fifth, but just four lengths behind winner Ciro Street in a $25,000 starter allowance at a mile-and-a-sixteenth.

In her only other start against stakes fillies, she was third, beaten a length by winner Mohawk Trail in the $110,000 Pleasant Acres Stallions Distaff Turf going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on Florida Cup Day, March 30, at Tampa Bay.

Out of the Gone West mare Stellar Strength, Dreaming of Anna has a career record of three wins, four seconds and three thirds with earnings of $130,325. 

Sonny Leon will ride Dreaming of Anna from post five and she is 6-1 on the morning line.

The 8-5 favorite is Ribaltagaia, who makes her first start this year and her second in the United States since coming from France late last year.

In seven starts last year, all in France, Ribaltagaia won the US$59,200 Prix des Lilas over a mile at Chantilly in May and was third behind Sparkling Plenty (Fr) in the Group 2 Prix de Sandringham, also going a mile at Chantilly.

The 4-year-old daughter of Blame out of Silk Assassin, by Bernardini has a career ledger of two wins with a third in 10 starts with earnings of $103,234. She is owned by Frassetto Stables LLC and trained by Graham Motion.

Ribaltagaia will begin from post six with Samuel Marin in the irons.

Rounding out the field are Majestic Venezuela and jockey Cristian Torres, Hola Gata with rider Jorge Vargas Jr., Breath Away (GB) will be ridden by Samy Camacho, Christian Maragh has the call on Victoria’s Dancer and Fernando Jara will be aboard Tuck Check.

Return to the August 29 issue of Wire to Wire