DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 3, 2024) – Harris Farm homebred On the Whim proved best by a length and a quarter in a surprise in the 19th running of the California Dreamin’ Stakes, a mile and one sixteenth on the turf course that is limited to Golden State Series eligible 3-year-olds and up at Del Mar.
The homebred 4-year-old gelding by Acclamation, out of the Maria’s Mon mare Whimsy, covered the distance in 1:41.44 under Abel Cedillo and returned an even $22 to his backers.
“He didn’t break that well, but we got a good spot and I got him to relax,” said Cedillo. “He was going easy; I just left him alone. The fractions weren’t that fast. Then he had it when it came time. A good race for him. I’m loving winning races again. So good to be back at Del Mar. I love it here.”
Veteran trainer Dean Pederson picked up his third California Dreamin’ win.
“I told him (Abel Cedillo), with the rail, you have to run away from there,” said Pederson. “The main thing was the horse relaxed for him. He was tracking a horse coming out of sprint races so you weren’t going to try to go head-and-head with him. The only chance you had was to run him down in the last eighth if you have enough horse and it worked to our advantage.”
On the Whim has three wins in seven starts and earnings of $164,740.
Finishing second in the field of 11 was Victory Rose Thoroughbreds-bred Proof He Rides, who was a half-length better than None Above the Law, bred by J. Kirk and Judy Robison.