WinStar Farm has acquired the breeding rights to Always Dreaming (Bodemeister–Above Perfection, by In Excess {Ire}) and will stand this year's GI Kentucky Derby and GI Florida Derby hero upon completion of his racing career.
“We are excited to add another potentially breed-shaping stallion from the dominant Unbridled line, which has proven to be today's preeminent classic sire line,” said Elliott Walden, WinStar President & CEO. “Always Dreaming has all three things we look for: looks, he was a $350,000 yearling; pedigree, he is out of a fast, Grade I-level race mare and is a half to a Grade I winner; and performance, he's a brilliantly fast winner of two prestigious Grade 1 races this year, including the race everyone wants to win–the [Kentucky] Derby. He represents four straight generations of a sire line that finished first or second in the Kentucky Derby.”
Always Dreaming arrived at WinStar early Monday morning for a planned freshening and examination at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital. A determination on whether he will enter stud in 2018 or 2019 will be made following an exam by Dr. Larry Bramlage. Always Dreaming is owned and campaigned by MeB Racing, Brooklyn Boyz, Teresa Viola, St Elias, Siena Farm and West Point Thoroughbreds. Among the partners in Always Dreaming's future stallion career with WinStar are SF Bloodstock, China Horse Club, and Siena Farm.
“Always Dreaming is a very special horse, and we are excited about his future stallion career at WinStar,” said co-owner Vinnie Viola. “We will continue the ride and support him with some great mares down the road. The combination of SF Bloodstock, China Horse Club, Siena Farm, and WinStar Farm ensures a super partnership with access to some of the best broodmare bands in the world. This is a group that knows how to make leading sires, and we want to give Always Dreaming the best opportunity when he retires to stud.”
A $350,000 Keeneland September acquisition, Always Dreaming is out of the fleet GSW & GISP Above Perfection, also the dam of 2009 GI Spinaway S. winner Hot Dixie Chick (Dixie Union). The latter has gone on to produce the mulitple stakes-winning sprinter Union Jackson (Curlin). Always Dreaming's sire and paternal grandsire Empire Maker were both runner-up in the Kentucky Derby, while his great-grandsire Unbridled was victorious in the 'Run for the Roses.'
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Always Dreaming has a record of 9-4-2-1 and earnings to date of $2,344,700.
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