Exotics Plays for the Dream Supreme Stakes

A compact, but competitive, cast of six fillies and mares will travel six furlongs on the main strip at Churchill Downs in Saturday’s $300,000 Dream Supreme S. Of the trio of entrants from the barn of Saffie Joseph, I expect #5 Indy Bay (4-1) to receive the best trip and get the job done under Jose Ortiz. The Grade-2 -winning daughter of Take Charge Indy had a nice run of form prior to finishing unplaced in the recent Princess Rooney (G3) at Gulfstream Park on Sept. 12, but she comes in fresh for this one and also cuts back in trip to six panels. 

Dream Supreme Exotics

• $5 exacta key box 5 with 4,6 ($20)
• $2 trifecta 5 with 4,6 with all ($16)
• $1 trifecta box 4-5-6 ($6)

The bargain $19,000 yearling purchase has won or placed in each of her four previous attempts at the distance. In this particular event, the four-year-old will be tracking a lively, contested early tempo prior to being asked for her best approaching the turn for home. I envision her inching clear late at a fair number in the small cast. 

Multiple Grade 3 starlet #4 Echo Sound (9-5) is an unblemished five-for-five at the distance and has also run a pair of big races on the course for conditioner Rusty Arnold. The four-year-old bay has been outrun late in two straight while facing some very good ones in the graded ranks and will relish the measure of class relief, as well as a return to this venue. The Echo Town filly doesn’t need the lead to win and could be pressing the pace from third early on with Luis Saez in the stirrups. 

The Ian Wilkes-trained #6 Justinqueso (5-1) has moved up with the addition of blinkers and a switch to the dirt, as of late. By Ghostzapper, the four-year-old miss dominated allowance foes at Colonial Downs two back, then posted a sharp allowance second, when well clear of the third-place finisher at Keeneland on Oct. 7. The $175,000 yearling purchase has never been better, and the Kentucky-bred is another who will be doing her best work from just off of the early pace with Brian Hernandez, Jr. on board.