Time to Dream Dominates P.G. Johnson Stakes in Stakes Debut
‘TDN Rising Star’ Time to Dream (Not This Time) remained perfect with a commanding five-length victory in the P.G. Johnson Stakes at Saratoga on Wednesday, making an impressive statement in her stakes debut.
The Todd Pletcher-trained filly, sent off as the 3-5 favorite, settled at the back early while a headstrong Vernon Valley (Vekoma) set moderate fractions of :24.03 and :49.21 from her outside draw.
Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. guided Time to Dream to the outside exiting the far turn, where she unleashed a powerful burst midstretch to draw off convincingly. Fellow first-out winner Scratch It (Tapit) finished second.
“Todd told me, ‘ride her like a good horse.’ I think she is, so that’s what I did,” Ortiz said after the race. “I was in a good position, I know the pace went a little slow, so I tried to start working out of the backside–start working out for somewhere if the pace going too slow, tried to make an early move maybe in the second turn. It worked out beautiful. She’s such a nice one.”
Time to Dream had previously impressed in her July 25 debut at Saratoga, winning by 2 1/4 lengths as the second choice while earning TDN Rising Star status.
Pletcher expressed satisfaction with the filly’s continued development. “We were very excited about her debut and even more so coming out [today],” he said. “You just hope they continue to train well. She trained really well following her debut and she came over and handled herself very professionally. She was great in the paddock and had to stand in the gate a little while and took that in stride and displayed that big turn of foot that she has again.”
The winner is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner and Grade 1-placed Red Carpet Ready (Oscar Performance), who excelled on dirt. Devilish Grin completed the trifecta in Wednesday’s race.
Time to Dream, a $750,000 yearling purchase at Fasig-Tipton’s 2024 August sale, is out of the unraced mare Wild Silk, who is also responsible for a colt from this season by Cody’s Wish. Wild Silk is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Joking.
The victory improved Time to Dream’s career record to 2-for-2 with earnings of $137,500 for owner Repole Stable.
TIME TO DREAM is now 2 for 2 after she wins the P. G. Johnson Stakes pres. by
