Adreamisborn just held off Irish-bred Night Bokbel to win the $125,000 Stanford Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIIT) by a head Saturday at Bay Meadows.
Ridden by Russell Baze, Adreamisborn ran 1 1/16 miles on a "soft" Longden Turf Course in 1:46.28. Part of a three-horse Jerry Hollendorfer-trained entry that went off favored at 6-to-5 odds, Adreamisborn paid $4.60 to win.
Adreamisborn, receiving a patient ride from Baze, saved ground throughout the Stanford and came from off the pace to earn his third career stakes victory. The 6-year-old gelding made his winning move at the top of the stretch when he charged through an opening along the rail.
"When he made the lead he started jacking around," said Baze. "He drifted out. But once that horse (Night Bokbel) came up to him and he saw him, he dug back in and I knew we'd hold him off to the wire."
It was a tough loss for Night Bokbel and jockey Luis Jauregui, who rallied his 6-year-old horse from last in the field of eight.
"I wanted to save ground but I could see nothing was going to open up so I swung him out," said Jauregui. "He kicked nicely. The only thing was he wanted to lay into the other horse (Adreamisborn) down the lane. He handled the turf really nice. I've got no excuse."
Adreamisborn is owned in partnership by Hollendorfer, Mark DeDomenico, and George Todaro. The Stanford victory was worth $68,750 and increased Adreamisborn's earnings to $385,430.
"He's been doing well," said Hollendorfer of Adreamisborn. "He won a big race last summer (the Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs) and won a big race here. There was plenty of competition in this race."
Hollendorfer started four of the eight runners in the Stanford. His other entrants were Gold Ruckus (who finished fourth), Yougottawanna (fifth), and Congressionalhonor (who bore out on the first turn and was pulled up). Since Hollendorfer owns a part of Adreamisborn, Congressionalhonor, and Gold Ruckus, those three runners were grouped together in the wagering as a three-horse entry.
"I hate to be running four in a race, but they all deserved to be in there," said Hollendorfer.
(Chart, Equibase)