The ever speedy Dream Rush continues to bring joy to the West Point Thoroughbreds team. Toasting, our 3-year-old Congrats filly, rallied from off the pace to notch her first stakes score in Sunday’s $100,000 Dream Rush Stakes at Belmont Park.
After a slow start, jockey Jose Ortiz patiently guided Toasting to the rail before launching a five wide move on the turn and kicking clear with plenty left in the tank. Trained by Tom Albertrani, she covered the seven furlongs in 1:23.27 and returned $23.40 to win.
The ever speedy Dream Rush continues to bring joy to the West Point Thoroughbreds team. Toasting, our 3-year-old Congrats filly, rallied from off the pace to notch her first stakes score in Sunday’s $100,000 Dream Rush Stakes at Belmont Park.
After a slow start, jockey Jose Ortiz patiently guided Toasting to the rail before launching a five wide move on the turn and kicking clear with plenty left in the tank. Trained by Tom Albertrani, she covered the seven furlongs in 1:23.27 and returned $23.40 to win.
Purchased by WPT president Terry Finley at the 2012 OBS March 2-Year-Old in Training Sale, Toasting broke her maiden over the Belmont strip in September 2012 before finishing third in the Frizette Stakes (G1). As a 3-year-old she won a first level allowance at Gulfstream Park in March before placing in three stakes races, including the Black Eyed Susan (G2).
Owned by WPT for most of her racing career, Dream Rush won four graded stakes at NYRA tracks: the Nassau County Breeders’ Cup (G2), Prioress (G1), and most notably the Darley Test (G1) at Saratoga in 2007. She then sold for $3.3 million at the 2007 Fasig-Tipton November Sale before being bred to A.P. Indy and foaling multiple graded stakes winner Dreaming of Julia for owner Stonestreet Farm.
“About a month ago I saw an overnight stake at Belmont named after Zaftig,” said Terry Finley. “With Dream Rush winning three graded stakes at NYRA tracks, I thought she deserved the same recognition. I called Rick Violette (trainer of Dream Rush), and asked what he thought. He said ‘consider it done.’
“Dream Rush is very special to West Point Thoroughbreds and her Partners. She had as much natural speed as any horse we’ve owned and is making her mark as a broodmare. Our connection to Dream Rush made today’s win even more exciting. Toasting’s been competitive against the best three-year-old fillies in the country this year, but without a trip to the winner’s circle since March, we knew we had to switch things up. Tom (Albertrani) and I suspected she’d be dangerous cutting back to seven eighths. Jose (Ortiz) gave her a perfect ride.
“I was actually on a plane to Kentucky during the race and didn’t get a chance to watch it live. I knew it was a good sign when I turned my phone and saw a bunch of Tweets coming through.”
Dream Rush winning the 2007 Darley Test (G1) in style:
