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MJM Racing’s promising 2-year-old filly V V’s Dream improved to 2-for-3 Sept. 16 in taking the $300,000 Pocahontas Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs by 8 3/4 lengths.
With her only defeat in two prior starts being a second last out in the July 2 Debutante Stakes at Ellis Park to eventual Adirondack Stakes (G3) and Spinaway Stakes (G1) winner Brightwork , V V’s Dream was backed to 6-5 favoritism in the Pocahontas and ran to her strong support. After stalking a hotly contested pace, she closed three wide on the turn and overwhelmed the opposition.
#6 V V’s Dream comes from off the pace and easily takes the G3 Pocahantas S. at Churchill Downs under @b_hernandezjr for trainer @KennyMcPeek! 🏆
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/NfuMIyAO3N
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 16, 2023
Youalmosthadme ran second ahead of Hot Beach in third. Courbe and Riperton rounded out the top five, all of whom earned qualifying points toward next year’s Kentuck Oaks (G1) with Pocahontas the kickoff race of the series.
The Pocahontas also served as a Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen Bonus Series race, awarding bonus credits toward entry fees to the first three finishers toward the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Santa Anita Park.
The Mark Stansell-bred winner raced a mile on a fast track in 1:36.45, paying $4.40 to win.
“I think stretching out around two turns shouldn’t be a problem in the future,” jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. said.
She provided trainer Kenny McPeek with a second consecutive Pocahontas and his fourth overall. He returned his three prior Pocahontas winners in the Alcibiades Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, where they were second, third, and eighth, respectively.
The winner is a gray 2-year-old daughter of Mitole, the 2019 Eclipse Award-winning male sprinter who stood this year for $15,000 at Spendthrift Farm near Lexington. His first foals are 2-year-olds, led by $297,605 earner V V’s Dream, Mitole’s first stakes winner.
Video: Pocahontas S. (G3)
This story will be updated with a recap of the Iroquois Stakes (G3).
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