Dream Catcher the one to beat as Portmore Stakes closes ‘Road to the Triple Crown’

The sixth staging of the $3-million Portmore Stakes brings the curtain down on the ‘Road to the Triple Crown’ for native-bred fillies at Caymanas Park today.

Ten runners are line up for the seven-and-a-half-furlong (1,500-m) Graded Stakes contest, but if you’re looking for the winner, only three really matter.

Dream Catcher heads the field and it’s hard to argue against her. The Bern Identity filly out of Double Jeopardy stamped herself as the filly to beat when she won the Thornbird Stakes by two and a quarter lengths on April 11, and she hasn’t missed a beat since.

Same rivals, an extra half-furlong that suits, and a trip she has no problem to handle. She’s the morning line favourite, and deservedly so. Unless she beats herself, Dream Catcher wins.

The race is positioned as the 10th and final contest on the day with a post time of 5:40 pm with the first race at 11:50 am.

If Dream Catcher falters, Passion and Beyond is waiting. The Savoy Stomp filly skipped the Thornbird but comes in fresh off a 3-length romp on April 6 over seven furlongs. She’s bred for distance and the extra 100m plays right into her hands. That Thornbird form counts for nothing here — she wasn’t part of it.

Talent, freshness, and pedigree make her the most likely to pick up the pieces if the favourite has an off day.

Passion and Beyond’s stablemate Another Wow isn’t flashy, but she’s honest. She chased Dream Catcher home in the Thornbird, beaten 2 ¼ lengths and never once giving in. The distance won’t hurt her and she’ll be there grinding it out late. Don’t be surprised if she’s running second again. She might not have the turn of foot to win, but she won’t go down without a fight.

For the others, it’s mostly about picking up a cheque. Taylor Made led in the Thornbird before folding, and the extra half-furlong won’t help her cause.

One Ianzha Links and Victorious Links look outclassed. Sky Is The Limit drifts out when she leads — hard to trust her to stay straight for seven and a half furlongs.

Pippa won nicely on debut but is untested against this level, and while the distance helps, the class might not.
Aliya’s Will has no chance. Lexi Lou might sneak into the frame, but she won’t be winning.

Ones to watch:

Race 1) Hazelnut/Margarita/Four Thirty

Race 2) Bushfire/Successful Man/The Soul Warrior

Race 3) Bold Move/Conundrum/T Brady

Race 4) Maybelle/Tom Strong/BarBQ

Race 5) Cosalivin/Legal Fight/My Eclipse

Race 6) Splendid Vision/Grey Commander/Kay Boy

Race 7) Uncle Nally/Mohanlal/Fidelity

Race 8) Is That A Fact/Blue Vinyl/Inspire Force

Race 9) Main Mistress/Divine Force/Sensational Soul

Race 10) Dream Catcher/Passion and Beyond/Another Wow