Always Dreaming (USA)
February 25, 2014 – Living
Bodemeister (USA) x Above Perfection (USA), by In Excess (IRE)
Family 4-p
February 25, 2014 – Living
Bodemeister (USA) x Above Perfection (USA), by In Excess (IRE)
Family 4-p
A horse who inherited both the high cruising speed and headstrong disposition of his sire and maternal grandsire, Always Dreaming put together back-to-back Grade 1 wins in the Xpressbet Florida Derby (USA-G1) and the Kentucky Derby (USA-G1). He failed to win again after his Classic success and is now a young stallion.
Race record
11 starts, 4 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$2,415,860
2016:
2017:
Assessments
Rated at 120 pounds on the 2017 World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 14 pounds below overall highweight Arrogate and 2 pounds below the best 3-year-old male on dirt, West Coast.
As an individual
A lithe, energetic, smoothly made dark bay or brown horse, Always Dreaming had a headstrong disposition. He preferred to race on or close to the pace.
As a stallion
Always Dreaming’s first foals will come to the races in 2022. His first foal, a filly out of the Exchange Rate mare Lemon Liqueur, arrived January 6, 2020.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Always Dreaming was bred by Santa Rosa Partners. He was owned by MeB Racing (Mary Ellen Bonomo), Brooklyn Boyz Stables (Anthony Bonomo), Teresa Viola Racing, and St. Elias Stables (Vincent Viola) after being purchased for US$350,000 from the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale. Early in 2017, the Bonomos and the Violas a 25 percent interest in Always Dreaming to Siena Farm (Anthony Mangonaro), and West Point Thoroughbreds for US$1.25 million. The colt was initially trained by Dominick Schettino and was moved to the barn of Todd Pletcher in September 2016. He was ridden to his Kentucky Derby score by John Velazquez. Always Dreaming entered stud in Kentucky in 2019 at WinStar Farm.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 2012 Arkansas Derby (USA-G1) winner Bodemeister (by Empire Maker), Always Dreaming is inbred 5x5x4 to the great international sire Northern Dancer, the 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male. He is a half brother to 2009 Spinaway Stakes (USA-G1) winner Hot Dixie Chick (by Dixie Union), dam of Grade 3 winner Pauline’s Pearl (by Tapit) and Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner Union Jackson (by Curlin), and to 2018 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G2) winner Positive Spirit (by Pioneerof the Nile).
Always Dreaming’s dam is Above Perfection, who won the 2002 Las Flores Handicap (USA-G3) and was Grade 1-placed. She is a half sister to listed stakes winner Made to Perfection (by Bolger) and to Perfectly Perfect (by Perfect Mandate), dam of stakes winners Twenty Hawks (by Unusual Heat) and Epitome of a Lady (by Poteen; dam of stakes winner Diamonds R, by Alternation). The sisters, in turn, are out of unraced Something Perfect, a daughter of Secretariat’s half brother Somethingfabulous (by Northern Dancer) and a half sister to stakes winner Conky Johnston (by Majestic Prince). The last-named mare is the dam of listed stakes winner Sounds Fabulous and restricted stakes winner Some Sensation (both by Somethingfabulous).
The next dam in Always Dreaming’s tail-female line is Happening, a stakes-placed daughter of 1959 Santa Anita Handicap winner Terrang (by Khaled). She was produced from Lazy Mary (by 1959 Olympic Handicap winner Noureddin), a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Mary Lancer (by Irish Lancer).
Books and media
Footage of Always Dreaming’s Kentucky Derby win can be accessed in connection with Mary LaRue’s article “Always Dreaming a Dream Come True for Bonomo,” published at Bloodhorse.com on April 30, 2020 (https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/239884/always-dreaming-a-derby-come-true-for-bonomo).
Fun facts
Last updated: May 13, 2021
Race record
11 starts, 4 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$2,415,860
2016:
- Won Xpressbet Florida Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd Jim Dandy Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Saratoga)
2017:
- 2nd Gulfstream Park Hardacre Mile Stakes (USA-G2, 8FD, Gulfstream Park)
Assessments
Rated at 120 pounds on the 2017 World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 14 pounds below overall highweight Arrogate and 2 pounds below the best 3-year-old male on dirt, West Coast.
As an individual
A lithe, energetic, smoothly made dark bay or brown horse, Always Dreaming had a headstrong disposition. He preferred to race on or close to the pace.
As a stallion
Always Dreaming’s first foals will come to the races in 2022. His first foal, a filly out of the Exchange Rate mare Lemon Liqueur, arrived January 6, 2020.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Always Dreaming was bred by Santa Rosa Partners. He was owned by MeB Racing (Mary Ellen Bonomo), Brooklyn Boyz Stables (Anthony Bonomo), Teresa Viola Racing, and St. Elias Stables (Vincent Viola) after being purchased for US$350,000 from the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale. Early in 2017, the Bonomos and the Violas a 25 percent interest in Always Dreaming to Siena Farm (Anthony Mangonaro), and West Point Thoroughbreds for US$1.25 million. The colt was initially trained by Dominick Schettino and was moved to the barn of Todd Pletcher in September 2016. He was ridden to his Kentucky Derby score by John Velazquez. Always Dreaming entered stud in Kentucky in 2019 at WinStar Farm.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 2012 Arkansas Derby (USA-G1) winner Bodemeister (by Empire Maker), Always Dreaming is inbred 5x5x4 to the great international sire Northern Dancer, the 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male. He is a half brother to 2009 Spinaway Stakes (USA-G1) winner Hot Dixie Chick (by Dixie Union), dam of Grade 3 winner Pauline’s Pearl (by Tapit) and Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner Union Jackson (by Curlin), and to 2018 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G2) winner Positive Spirit (by Pioneerof the Nile).
Always Dreaming’s dam is Above Perfection, who won the 2002 Las Flores Handicap (USA-G3) and was Grade 1-placed. She is a half sister to listed stakes winner Made to Perfection (by Bolger) and to Perfectly Perfect (by Perfect Mandate), dam of stakes winners Twenty Hawks (by Unusual Heat) and Epitome of a Lady (by Poteen; dam of stakes winner Diamonds R, by Alternation). The sisters, in turn, are out of unraced Something Perfect, a daughter of Secretariat’s half brother Somethingfabulous (by Northern Dancer) and a half sister to stakes winner Conky Johnston (by Majestic Prince). The last-named mare is the dam of listed stakes winner Sounds Fabulous and restricted stakes winner Some Sensation (both by Somethingfabulous).
The next dam in Always Dreaming’s tail-female line is Happening, a stakes-placed daughter of 1959 Santa Anita Handicap winner Terrang (by Khaled). She was produced from Lazy Mary (by 1959 Olympic Handicap winner Noureddin), a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Mary Lancer (by Irish Lancer).
Books and media
Footage of Always Dreaming’s Kentucky Derby win can be accessed in connection with Mary LaRue’s article “Always Dreaming a Dream Come True for Bonomo,” published at Bloodhorse.com on April 30, 2020 (https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/239884/always-dreaming-a-derby-come-true-for-bonomo).
Fun facts
- Anthony Bonomo Jr. was given a US$200,000 limit by his father when he went to the Keeneland September yearling sale to purchase the colt. He ignored it “by a little bit.”
- Always Dreaming got his name from Mary Ellen Bonomo’s self-description as a chronic daydreamer.
- During birthday festivities for Mary Ellen Bonomo the night before the Kentucky Derby, Anthony Bonomo asked what she would like as a birthday gift. She replied, “The only thing I want for my birthday is that [Kentucky Derby] trophy.” She got it, and her husband noted with a grin, “I got away cheap.”
- Always Dreaming’s co-owner Vincent Viola also owns the Florida Panthers, a National Hockey League franchise.
- Always Dreaming was the first Kentucky Derby victor since Brokers Tip in 1933 to win the classic without having won as a 2-year-old.
- After receiving a Dodge Ram pickup truck as part of the package for the winning Kentucky Derby trainer, Todd Pletcher donated the value of the truck to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.
Last updated: May 13, 2021