California Dreaming for Hollendorfer, Baze

Adreamisborn continued to show his love for California as the Jerry Hollendorfer trainee got up in the final stride to win Saturday's $125,000 Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIIT) on the turf.

Hollendorfer wasn't worried about the photo at Bay Meadows. He also saddled runner-up Shadow Raider, who had led throughout the about 1 1/8-mile turf race until Adreamisborn's late charge.

"It looked like Shadow Raider was going easy," Hollendorfer said. "I thought Shadow Raider was going to win it, but 'Dream came running."

Ridden by Russell Baze, Adreamisborn trailed the compact field of five until the turn for home, making a three-wide move on the bend. He quickly overtook El Don, then resolutely closed to nip his stablemate at the wire by a nod. Hatif outfinished El Don for third, 2 1/2 lengths behind the winner. Grafton finished fifth. Kilgowan scratched.

"Boy, he made that exciting," Baze said. "He just walked out of the gate. At the half-mile pole, I reached back and hit him to get his attention. I thought I had a shot at the top of the lane because he was moving, but when we hit the wire, I wouldn't have bet money that we got there. That was tight."

Adreamisborn was the handicap's high weight at 121 pounds. Shadow Raider, with 116 pounds, set moderate fractions of :23 3/5, :48 2/5 and :1:12 2/5 and stretched his lead to three lengths at the top of the stretch under jockey Chad Schvaneveldt. The final time was 1:46.94 on a firm turf course.

"The race was just a jump too far," Schvaneveldt said.

A 6-year-old gelded son of Kris S. out of the Two's a Plenty mare Erica's Dream, Adreamisborn improved his record to nine wins in 27 starts. His $68,812 share of the purse increased his bankroll to $576,592.

Although he's raced with some success in Washington and Kentucky, Adreamisborn prefers Northern California, Hollendorfer said. "Turf or dirt, he just likes the firmer going. You know what they say, horses for courses, and he likes California courses."

Hollendorfer was unsure of his plans for Adreamisborn. He co-owns the winner with Mark DeDomenico and George Todaro.

The entry paid $3.40 to win and $2.80 to place with no show wagering.