Dreaming of Anna Tries to Stretch her Speed

Dreaming of Anna has used her most deadly weapon – her speed – to garner an Eclipse Award, amass nearly $2 million in earnings, and compile a sterling record of 10 wins, three seconds and one third from 15 lifetime starts. But in Saturday's Beverly D. S. (G1), the champion will be asked to carry that speed for 1 3/16 miles in the longest race of her life. Can the Frank Calabrese homebred stay the trip at her home base of Arlington Park? Let's take a look at her background, then get the views of trainer Wayne Catalano.

During her championship juvenile season, Dreaming of Anna flashed pure, raw speed. A wire-to-wire winner of her debut sprinting 4 ½ furlongs on Arlington's old dirt track, she broke the course record at Colonial Downs when blazing 5 ½ grassy furlongs in 1:01 3/5 in the Tippett S. She successfully stepped up to a one-turn mile in the Summer S. (Can-G3) on the Woodbine turf, battling for the early lead before slamming a field of males, led by the smart colt Marcavelly (Johannesburg). Her first attempt at two turns came in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Churchill Downs, where she controlled the pace throughout to claim year-end honors.

Dreaming of Anna took some time to find her best form at three, but she really blossomed when Catalano kept her exclusively on the turf, and she has continued that rich vein of form this season as a four-year-old.

Although Dreaming of Anna has yet to race beyond 1 1/8 miles, she boasts a three-for-four career mark at that trip on grass. Her victories include a 4 1/4-length romp in the Pucker Up S. (G3) right here at Arlington last summer, as well as a 6 3/4-length demolition job in the about 1 1/8-mile Hillsborough S. (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs this past March. Dreaming of Anna's lone loss at that distance came in the typically deep Queen Elizabeth II Invitational Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland last fall. On that occasion, she opened up a daylight lead in midstretch, only to be caught and passed late by Bit of Whimsy (Distorted Humor).

Does Catalano have any concerns about Dreaming of Anna's ability to last the extra distance on Saturday?

“Well, I've always thought she'd have distance limitations, but she's getting stronger and better,” Catalano said encouragingly. “The way she's been training, galloping out, she wants more ground.”

While granting that the 1 3/16 miles “might be a little farther” than ideal, Catalano was quick to add that they're giving it a shot because “We're here, we're at home.”

Giving further reason for optimism is Dreaming of Anna's physique, which has changed completely since her speedball juvenile days.

Catalano said that “She looked like a little bitty deer” at the 2006 Breeders' Cup, but now, she has grown and filled out.

“One day I looked at her,” Catalano said, “and she's as long as my truck!”

Indeed, Dreaming of Anna was an imposing presence outside of Catalano's barn this morning. She is a fine, lengthy individual, with a lovely, feminine head, but powerful hindquarters that remind you of her lethal speed. With her chestnut coat shining like burnished copper, she stood there, as if at attention, ears pricked.

“She don't miss nothing,” Catalano said of his star filly, who likes to be on watch, especially for green apples and her preferred brand of mints. “She sees everything. She's smart.”

Dreaming of Anna just might be smart enough to score for the formidable Calabrese-Catalano team, always a force to reckon with at Arlington.