When Noble's Promise won the Breeders’ Futurity (gr. I) at Keeneland Oct. 10, it seemed too good to be true for some of his owners.
The colt is owned by Chasing Dreams Racing, some members of which were part of Live the Dream Racing, whose Dream Empress won the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland in October 2008.
The filly went on to finish second in the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park last year. This year, it's Noble’s Promise who may figure prominently in the outcome of the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at Santa Anita.
“It’s more than we could have ever hoped for,” said Kelly Colliver, a Lexington resident involved in both partnerships. “Keeneland is my home track. The reality exceeded the fantasy.
“We thought it was once in a lifetime with Dream Empress. Is there two once-in-a-lifetimes? We do realize the magnitude of this.”
It is a bit hard to comprehend. In addition, some of the Dream Empress and Noble’s Promise partners owned She’s a Devil Due, who won the 2000 Alcibiades, then grade II, and finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies that year.
“A lot of us talk back and forth and ask if we’re just pinching ourselves,” Colliver said. “It isn’t just a dream.”
She’s a Devil Due and Dream Empress were trained by Ken McPeek, who also trains Noble’s Promise. McPeek is based in Central Kentucky, so many members of the Chasing Dreams Racing partnership get to watch him train at Churchill Downs.
Noble’s Promise, a Kentucky-bred by Cuvee out of the Clever Trick mare The Devil’s Trick, was purchased as a weanling for $10,000 at the 2007 Keeneland November yearling sale. Colliver said the plan was to sell the colt, but the market wasn’t there. He became a racehorse.
“He’s the best that never sold,” Colliver said.
There are 24 partners in Chasing the Dream racing, and 22 were expected to travel to Santa Anita for the Nov. 7 Juvenile. Colliver said about 50 people — including family and friends of the owners — may be on hand for the race.
“These people love the horse and being around the action,” Colliver said. “They enjoy the process of watching a yearling develop into a racehorse.”
Noble’s Promise finished second in his career debut in April at Keeneland, and when he returned in September, broke his maiden at Ellis Park, then won the Fitz Dixon Memorial Juvenile Stakes at Presque Isle Downs & Casino. He won the Breeders’ Futurity in his last start, his first effort at the 1 1/16-mile distance.
“Last year, it was a like a win to finish second (in a Breeders’ Cup race),” Colliver said. “We believe Noble’s Promise has a really good chance to take this. He keeps moving forward with every race.”
