Dream Tree too good in Grade 1 Starlet S.

Phoenix Thoroughbred III’s Dream Tree remained undefeated with a 3 1/4-length victory in Saturday’s $300,000 Starlet S. (G1) at Los Alamitos. The Bob Baffert 2-year-old filly, winner of the $100,000 Desi Arnaz S. at Del Mar on Nov. 18, has now earned $270,000.

The Starlet field was reduced to just four runners after scratches. Dream Tree set just outside of Yesterday’s News, who set a slow pace of :49.25 for the first half-mile. Dream Tree pulled on even terms with the early leader at the top of the stretch, and rolled right past her to easily claim the 1 1/16-mile contest in 1:43.87.

“The plan was to sit with her today,” Baffert said. “The first race (maiden win on Oct. 27) she had blinkers and she was rank and she won from a little off the pace. I wasn’t sure about two turns, but after she came back and worked the way she did (after winning the Desi Arnaz) is why I changed my mind and decided to run her in this spot.” 

For Baffert, Dream Tree is his fourth Starlet winner and first since the race moved from Hollywood Park in 2014. Dream Tree also earned 10 points on the 2018 Road to the Kentucky Oaks challenge series.