G2 Black-Eyed Susan Winner for Classic Empire
Interstatedaydream (3f Classic Empire x Babcock, by Uncle Mo) caught the eye at Pimlico on Preakness Stakes weekend Friday when the filly won the Grade II Black-Eyed Susan Stakes in easy fashion.
The sixth stakes winner from her sire’s first crop, Interstatedaydream was happy to stalk the Grade III-placed Beguine for much of the 1 1/8 mile dirt race before moving closer as they entered the far turn. That runner was no match for Interstatedaydream, who galloped up to her under Florent Geroux with that jockey doing very little to encourage his mount.
Geroux asked Interstatedaydream to get serious as they entered the stretch and she happily went on. Uncle Mo’s Adare Manor tried to catch her but could only settle for second, 1 ¼ lengths behind the winner. That placing gave Uncle Mo a unique exacta with the Ashford stalwart also the broodmare sire of the winner.
“I’m just very proud of her,” trainer Brad Cox said. “She stepped up and ran a huge race. I was very shocked to see she was the price she was going into the gate. She wasn’t getting a lot of respect, and I really thought she fit well with this group. Congratulations to [owner] Staton Flurry. It was a big effort and I thought Florent did a good job of getting a good early position. Her last two works have been phenomenal, and she showed up and ran a big race.”
A $175,000 2-year-old purchase by Flurry Racing Stable, Interstatedaydream has won three of her five starts with placings in last month’s Grade I Ashland Stakes and last year’s Grade II Adirondack Stakes on her record as well.
Bred by William Graham in Ontario, Interstatedaydream is one of two stakes performers out of her Uncle Mo dam alongside the multiple stakes-placed Emmeline. In addition to being a stakes producer, Babcock is also a half-sister to Canadian Horse of the Year Uncaptured and multiple stakes winner Dancing Raven.
This is also the family of the three-time Grade I-winning Curalina and Grade II winner Dundalk Dust among others.
Classic Empire is currently sitting at a 12.05% stakes performers to runners strike rate with six stakes winners led by Interstatedaydream and Grade III winner Morello. His six stakes winners and 10 stakes performers have him second among all North American second crop sires