Big Dreams - A Legend Remembered

Original article written by Emily White posted 11 years 1 week ago

It is without a doubt that Big Dreams was one of the fastest horses to set foot on a racetrack. In the morning, she blazed through sprinter-like fractions in her workouts. She boasted a perfect nine-for-nine record, earning nearly $900,000. She defeated fillies like Favorite Girl, Unfathomed, and Sash. And in the broodmare shed, she produced twelve Grade 1 winners.

Unfortunately, Big Dreams passed away earlier today after foaling a black Just Victory filly, who was later named Best Dreams. She was seventeen years old.

A daughter of Derby winner Mighty Big, her two year-old career was flawless. Her four races in Year 19 - three of them graded stakes - were won by a combined 28 1/2 lengths. In her last start of that year, she crushed Unfathomed by four lengths in the Frizette Stakes. Unfathomed would later go on to win the Steward's Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Big Dreams came back even stronger in Year 20. After a 10 1/2 length domination of a small Grade 3 in Kentucky and another drubbing of rival Unfathomed, she was entered in the Louisville Oaks. At nine furlongs, this would be her biggest challenge yet. Despite all odds, though, she managed to eke out the win over Favorite Girl. Be The Best and Unfathomed settled for third and fourth that day.

The small bay filly would only start twice more. It was obvious the racemare had distance limitations; anyone could see that. It ruled out the Steward's Cup Classic or Distaff, at 10 and 9 furlongs, respectively. So after a brilliant comeback race in the seven furlong Career Starter Stakes, Big Dreams ended her racing career with a four length win over a modest field in the Grade 1 RUffian Handicap.

But her stardom was not yet over. Her first foal, Gift of the Moon (by Out of Kindness) won eight stakes races and eventually produced miler superstar King of Kindness. Her second foal, Derby Dreams, was a multiple Simmy winner in the Caribbean. And Big Gamble, a Grade 1 winner and Big Dreams' third foal, is most known for being the sire of Steward's Cup champion Gamble in the Dark.

Then after that came Worth a Fortune and Dream Seeker, Grade 1 winning mares who have now produced graded stakes winners of their own, as well as the high-priced American Baby filly Be My Baby. Her seventh foal, Big Bucks, is starting to make a name for himself as a sire. Big Dreams' only dud in the shed was her eighth foal, a small bay gelding by Boise named Bridges to Cross. He never managed to win a stakes race and was very inconsistent. He now resides as a pensioner in Venezuela.

Dreamer was next. She was sired by Fire Added Starter, a son of Tot Ziens (who also recently passed away). A very nice graded stakes winner, she now has a promising two year-old in Strangeland. The Mostest Horse has recently been in the headlines - in Week 6, he defeated Lasher by a head to win the prestigious Desert Mile, his first Grade 1 win since his two year-old season. Last time out, he won the Grade 1 Rosita Cup in Hawaii. Grade 1 winner Big Wishes is now a broodmare for Stephen Saratoga.

Big Moment was Big Dreams' fourth-to-last foal. By Shadowless, this three year-old has already began his march to the Steward's Cup Dirt Mile. Two races back, he defeated older horses in the Grade 1 Long Island Mile. His little sister, the small bay filly Big Future, is one of the best two year-old fillies in the country. She looks poised to take the Grade 1 Lexington Debutante in a little over a week's time from now.

Finally, there is the yearling Brilliant Dream, a colt by Messiah, and Best Dreams, the aforementioned filly foal by Just Victory.

The legacy of Big Dreams will not be forgotten. Even though she is no longer with us, she will always be remembered as that tiny, lightning-fast filly, Hall of Fame champion and blue-hen mare. Her blood will run thick in the lines of Thoroughbred champions for many years to come. Rest in peace and condolences to all who loved her.

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