Southwestern Dream made his win in the Aquarius Series final on February 21 at the Meadowlands
a memorable one.
The 4-year-old pacer established the stakes record with his 1:49.4 triumph and also set the record for highest win payout, $108. He also did it the hard way, moving three wide at the half-mile point and racing first over. Southwestern Dream, driven by John Campbell, hit the three-quarter mark in 1:20.4 and held off Riggins by a neck.
"Speed has never been an issue with him," trainer Bruce Saunders said. "It's just a matter of having him physically and mentally together over a period of time. If he matures a little physically and lets us manner his speed better, I don't think they can tire him out."
Frank Bellino bought Southwestern Dream last year following the horse's sixth-place finish in a Bluegrass Stakes division at Lexington's Red Mile. Previously trained by Marie Ortolan, Southwestern Dream was second to Blue Claw, losing by a head, in the Kentucky Sire Stakes final for three-year-old male pacers.
The new ownership supplemented Southwestern Dream to the Progress Pace at Dover Downs, but the horse went off stride in the first turn of his elimination race. He was the favourite.
"He got caught between horses and made a break," Saunders said. "That was disappointing. We thought he could be competitive with the better three-year-olds there. We thought it was wide open."
This season, Southwestern Dream has won two of six starts. His other victory came in the opening round of the Aquarius Series, when he won by a neck over Lucky Man in 1:50. He finished eighth in the next round of the event, but was beaten by less than four lengths. To date, the son of Cambest has won 11 of 30 races and earned $255,714.
"In the second leg (of the Aquarius) he was a little flat finishing for various reasons," Saunders said. "John recommended we make a bridle change and close him back up, which we did. Coming into the final I trained him harder than normal. John put him in play and he was spectacular. He was aggressive; he was a handful. It was youthful enthusiasm. When he's feeling good he likes to be on the front end and doesn't like to have horses in front of him.
"It was just determination on his part," Saunders added about Southwestern Dream's performance in the final. "He gutted it out. He showed a dimension we hadn't seen."
Next ahead for Southwestern Dream is the Four Leaf Clover Series. Then, Saunders would like to see the horse get a break and return in the summer.
"I think he could use a six or eight-week reprieve where he's not racing," Saunders said. "You can't go to the post every week when you're racing at this level. I would think Mister Big and Shadow Play are the top two of the (older horse) class, but racing is a funny game and you've got to show up and perform. I think (Southwestern Dream) has enough speed to go with those horses.
"I like his pedigree; I think the Cambests get better with age. He came from a nice family and he got the best of care. I think next year as a five-year-old he's going to be given every opportunity to be a top free-for-aller."
(Harness Racing Communications)