First-crop sire Bodemeister's first winner also become his first stakes winner when Bode's Dream, a gray or roan filly out of Frolic's Dream (by Smoke Glacken), won the $200,000 Asotria Stakes at Belmont Park.
Bode's Dream took the lead early and led the field through opening fractions of :22.13 and :45.56 in the 5 1/2-furlong stakes that attracted a field of seven. Bode's Dream was never challenged and won easily by two lengths in 1:03.66.
China Grove finished second and Anna's Bandit prevailed in a close finish for third. Bode's Dream was ridden by John Velazquez.
Bode's Dream won her career debut May 11 at Gulfstream Park in a maiden special weight event. The Astoria was her second start.
"In these type of races everyone's sort of in the same boat," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "Everybody for the most part has run one time and won. Generally, in these type of races most of the horses that have won have been on the pace. Things have to shake out and you find out who the fastest of the fastest is.
"I was kind of concerned how the track was playing. It didn't seem like speed was holding up very well. There was a very strong headwind down the backside but like I told Johnny in the paddock, 'Maybe don't overthink it; we're only going five and a half (furlongs)—you're not running that far into the wind'. She just caught a flyer at the start and was right on the lead right away. Johnny did a smart thing and took advantage of it."
The filly, owned by Vincent and Teresa Viola's St. Elias Stable, was sold for $135,000 at the 2014 Keeneland November breeding stock sale to Walter Bloodstock out of the Bedouin Bloodstock consignment. She was then offered at the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale by Paramount Sales, where Jim Crupi bought her for $300,000 under the name of his Crupi's New Castle Farm.
Crupi in turn put Bode's Dream in this year's Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March 2-year-olds in training sale, where she was bought back at $340,000.
Bodemeister (Empire Maker —Untouched Talent, by Storm Cat) was raced by Zayat Stables. He won the 2012 Arkansas Derby (gr. I) before he came in second in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) to I'll Have Another. Bodemeister stands at WinStar Farm for $30,000.
