Sire: Bodemeister

Grandsire: Empire Maker

Dam: Above Perfection

Damsire: A.P. Indy

Sex: Colt

Foaled: 2014

Country: United States

Colour: Dark bay

Breeder: Santa Rosa Partners

Owner: MeB Racing, Brooklyn Boyz, Teresa Viola, St. Elias (Vincent Viola), Siena Farm and West Point

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Jockey: John Velazquez

Record: 11: 4-2-2

Earnings: $2,415,860

February 25 - Always Dreaming

He won the Florida Derby and turned around and won the Kentucky Derby. His sire is Bodemeister. You know that horse was surprised in the stretch by Mine That Bird. Second in the Derby isn't bad, and he has great bloodlines as a son of Empire Maker who also gave Pioneer Of Nile (sire of American Pharoah). To go back even further, Empire Maker might have been the best son of Kentucky Derby winner, Unbridled.

But I guess we'll never know what else Bodemeister was capable of here in the states as he was sold to (an owner in) Turkey before Always Dreaming won the Kentucky Derby. I am not one to beat up the industry or the people in it, but it's a shame that a stallion with Bodemeister's pedigree was sold out of the country before his first foal crop even raced their 3-year-old season.

Sorry, I was a big fan of Empire Maker after seeing him win the Florida Derby in 2003. Well, we have Always Dreaming now; let's see if he can carry the torch for Unbridled, Empire Maker, Pioneer of the Nile, Royal Delta, and Bodemeister. This is a such a great sport with such great athletes that we get so attached to.