By Bloodhorse.com
WILMINGTON, Del. (June 9, 2021) — Miracle’s International Trading’s Dream Marie splashed to an upset last-to-first victory in the $100,250 Obeah Stakes June 9 at Delaware Park. The 4-year-old filly by California stallion Graydar, who was second in the Delaware Oaks (G3) last summer in her only other start at the track, won by 1 3/4 lengths and returned $19.40 on a $2 win ticket.
The Obeah is the local prep for the July 10 Delaware Handicap (G2). With Joe Bravo aboard, Dream Marie covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.40 on a sloppy main track.
“She really likes this course,” said Bravo, who also rode Dream Marie in last year’s Delaware Oaks. “The last time she was on this course she was a very game second, a heartbeat from winning. Today, as I was expecting, when she turned for home, she really kicked off nicely.”
Dream Marie was seventh through the first quarter-mile as 53-1 shot Shyza set opening fractions of :23.07 and :47.20. Miss Marissa , who stalked the pace in third, took over to post six furlongs in 1:11.58 as Dream Marie was making a five-wide move.
Continuing with her outside run, Dream Marie kicked clear in the final sixteenth to collect her first career stakes victory. Miss Marissa finished second two lengths ahead of Market Rumor in third. Bajan Girl , Graceful Princess , Artful Splatter , and Shyza completed the order of finish. The field was scratched down to half its original size after drawing 14 entries.
Dream Marie raised her career record to 5-4-1 from 20 starts with earnings of $297,420.
Trainer Matthew Williams was never discouraged after her previous race when she ran fifth in a starter allowance May 7 at Gulfstream Park and he has the Delaware Handicap under consideration for the gray or roan filly.
“She really likes being here at Delaware,” said Williams. “She ran really well here last year and she was only beaten a half-length. She has been training really well. In her last race, she finished last but that was against boys. In that race she ran the time I was expecting because I was not expecting the winner to run in 1:34, but even in that race I thought she ran the race we were expecting. It did not end the way we wanted, but she was off for three months (before the Gulfstream race) and she trained really well since then. The Delaware Handicap is definitely a consideration. It is a mile and a quarter, so we have to think about it, but she really likes it here at Delaware, so we got a lot to think about.”
Bred in Kentucky by Wynnstay and GWR, Dream Marie is the first foal and lone foal to race out of the winning Curlin mare Lin Marie . Miracle’s International Trading purchased Dream Marie for $25,000 at the 2019 Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, where she worked an eighth-mile in :10 3/5 as part of the Paul Sharp consignment. Dream Marie was previously a $10,000 purchase by Sean S. Perl Bloodstock from the Four Star Sales consignment at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale.
Lin Marie has produced two horses of racing age since Dream Marie, both unraced. They are 3-year-old filly Linada (Anchor Down ) and Linada’s 2-year-old full sister Home Port . The dam also foaled a Tapwrit colt this year already named Afternoon Surprise.