Chelsea Durand / NYRA Photo

Dream Bigger aims high to win second straight stakes in Notebook

by Brian Bohl

Repole Stable’s Dream Bigger challenged pacesetter Moonachie up front, gained command out of the turn and held off Scilly Cay’s late charge to capture Sunday’s $100,000 Notebook by 1 1/4 lengths at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The sixth running of the Notebook, for juvenile New York breds, saw Moonachie break well and surge to the front, with Jose Ortiz having Dream Bigger forwardly placed in second position as the opening quarter-mile went in 22.95 seconds on the fast main track.

Dream Bigger, the 4-5 favorite who bested stakes company in his last start, bolstered his bid for a second consecutive win against stakes caliber, taking command with a half-mile in 46.63 before widening his lead straightening for home.

In deep stretch, Scilly Cay made a late charge to close the gap, but Dream Bigger outkicked his challenger, completing six furlongs in a final time of 1:12.28.

“The horse on the lead [Moonachie], I didn’t expect to see in front,” said winning trainer Rudy Rodriguez. “I just told Jose, ‘You’re on top of the horse, just play it by ear.’ I don’t think we had him as ready and I think that this race will move him forward. He was carrying a little more weight than I wanted. But he got it done today and we’ll take things from here.”

Dream Bigger broke his maiden in his third start when wiring the field for a 10 ¾-length win New York Breeders’ Futurity on September 30 at Finger Lakes. The Mission Impazible colt improved to 2-for-2 in stakes company, returning $3.70 on a $2 win bet.

“When he made the lead, he kind of played around a bit, that’s why we put blinkers on him to focus him up a bit more,” Ortiz said. “He looked real good and did everything I asked him. He switched leads today, so we’re happy about that. Much better.”

Dream Bigger, who became the sixth favorite on Aqueduct’s 10-race card to win Sunday, improved his career bankroll to $205,828. Rodriguez said he remains on target for the $500,000 New York Stallion Series Great White Way on December 14 at the Big A.

“Mike [Repole, owner] wanted to go straight to that race but he was doing so well, I told him we should give him a race in between,” Rodriguez said. “We didn’t necessarily need to win but maybe get him a little tight and I think this race is going to do that for him.”

Scilly Cay, trained by Linda Rice, bested Bank On Shea by 3 1/2 lengths for second in his stakes bow.

Mission Wrapitup, Harris Bay, Moonachie and NY Traffic completed the order of finish.

Live race resumes Wednesday at the Big A with a nine-race card. First post is 12:20 p.m. Eastern.