Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Dream Shake

Apr 22, 2021 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Exline-Border Racing, SAF Racing, and Richard Hausman’s Dream Shake earned 30 points on the 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series this season. He ranks in 18th place on the leaderboard, and the dark bay boasts a career mark of 3-1-0-2, $162,600.

Trained by Peter Eurton, Dream Shake made his first appearance at Santa Anita on February 7 in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight dash. The 20-1 shot broke slowly but gained momentum nearing the turn for home, and drew off to a visually impressive first-out score. The son of Twirling Candy was given his first graded stakes assignment on March 6 in the San Felipe S. (G2) and checked in third in his first effort around two turns. In his most recent contest, the colt finished a clear third in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) at nine furlongs.

Dream Shake was bred in Kentucky by Dunwoody Farm, and the overachiever went through public auction on a pair of occasions. After bringing $32,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, he commanded $75,000 at the 2020 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training.

The colt is the first stakes producer out of the winning Street Cry mare Even Song, who is a half-sister to a trio of stakes winners including six-time graded stakes winner Synchrony; 2019 Honeybee S. (G3) queen Chocolate Kisses; and stakes heroine Point System.

Dream Shake has registered Brisnet Speed numbers of 90-91-95 from a trio of races to kickstart his career. His improving form is a very good sign, and the late-starting sophomore has trained in swift fashion this spring, including a bullet morning move on April 17. 

However, he still has to move forward in order to be a contender beneath the Twin Spires on May 1. Dream Shake has posted subpar Brisnet Late Pace figures of 83 in each of his pair of route assignments to date, which doesn’t suggest that the move to 10 furlongs at Churchill Downs will be ideal for the talented three-year-old. 

Dream Shake will need a lifetime-best performance to factor in the Run for the Roses.