Cinderella's Dream Proves Perfect Fit in Saratoga Oaks

Four rivals hoped the clock would strike midnight on Godolphin's Cinderella's Dream (GB) the afternoon of Aug. 2, but that was not to be. The grade 1-winning 3-year-old filly rallied to victory with an easy come-from-behind win over Kathynmarissa in the $388,000 Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes (G2T). The race was one of two graded stakes races on turf at Saratoga Race Course Friday. The other was the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2T), a race for 3-year-old males won by Neat. Though Cinderella's Dream was toward the rear of the field for much of the 1 3/16-mile Saratoga Oaks, she always appeared an imposing presence under Godolphin's first-call rider William Buick, who kept her wide, a few lengths off slow fractions of :24.75 and :49.80 set by Macanga. Entering the far turn, the Frankie Dettori-ridden Kathynmarissa went after the leader and poked a head in front after six furlongs in 1:14.34. And she remained in front approaching the sixteenth pole when Cinderella's Dream caught and passed her with her usual quick turn of foot. Cinderella's Dream pulled away for a 1 1/2-length victory, crossing the wire with her ears beginning to prick forward. She was clocked in 1:54.92 for the distance over firm turf. Buick said Dettori on Kathynmarissa "nipped up the inside and made a race of it. But I was always comfortable with my filly, I never really had a moment's worry. She responds so quickly to anything I ask her." Heavily favored on the basis of a 5-for-6 race record entering the race, a mark that included a victory in the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) in July, Cinderella's Dream paid $2.60 to win. Kathynmarissa, who briefly looked a threat when accelerating at the head of the lane, was a clear second, three lengths ahead of Dancing N Dixie in third. Movin' On Up and Macanga weakened to finish fourth and fifth, respectively, in the field of five. In addition to Buick, who traveled overseas from his British base for the ride and two other key mounts Aug. 3 at Saratoga, British trainer Charlie Appleby was also at Saratoga. The victory marked his 11th graded stakes victory in North America this year with a United States division for the Godolphin's powerhouse global operation. "She's obviously a classy filly and the class of the race," Appleby said. "The only reservation I had (was) that she put up such a big (speed) figure there last time that I was always concerned whether there would be a bounce out of that. To be fair to the team, they were always confident that she was in good order. "She's gone out there and done it comfortably. You could see that when (Buick) started taking her back on the turn and waiting instead of making that move earlier. He waited until the straight and just let her stride out in a hands-and-heels ride." Godolphin bred the 3-year-old daughter of Shamardal out of the Dubawi (IRE) mare Espadrille (GB) in Great Britain. Godolphin, Appleby, and Buick teamed to capture their second Saratoga Oaks after With The Moonlight (IRE)'s success in 2022. Appleby mentioned a start in either the Sept. 14 E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine or the Oct. 12 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1T) at Keeneland as upcoming race options for the Cinderalla's Dream, "and then take a view of a Breeders' Cup—but we'll see, and we'll see what's around. What she would take to that meeting would be plenty of experience, and, as you know, in the Breeders' Cup, you need that and a draw."