Fun to Dream wins graded stakes debut in La Brea S. (G1) thriller
Bob Baffert won his record ninth La Brea S. (G1) on Dec. 26 when Fun to Dream held off Awake at Midnyte in the seven-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies.
Fun to Dream is owned by Baffert’s wife Jill and Connie Pageler and was bred by Pageler and her trainer. She is a daughter of Arrogate, who Baffert also trained.
Fun to Dream settled comfortably coming out of the gate, taking the three path while never more than 1 ½-lengths from the lead in the first three furlongs. Still three-wide on the turn, Fun to Dream took command midway on the bend and was clearly in front at the top of the stretch. She gamely fended off Awake at Midnyte’s stretch rally to stop the timer in 1:21.99.
“I’m sitting next to my wife Jill, and she can’t believe what she’s seeing,” Baffert said. “You breed these horses, hoping for this moment. It looks like she’s just getting better and better. She doesn’t know she’s a Cal-bred.”
Fun to Dream also has a pair of state-bred stakes wins and is now five-for-six overall, with earnings of $426,590.
Fun to Dream was just one of Baffert’s five winners on the opening-day card, coming after Country Grammer won the San Antonio S. (G2) and prior to Taiba taking the Malibu S. (G1).