Purchased privately following a maiden win, last year’s overachieving Debutante S. winner and GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Vodka With a Twist (Thousand Words) hit the board in five straight graded stakes races for trainer Phil D’Amato in Southern California beginning with the GIII Sorrento S. at Del Mar.

Taylor Made’s Medallion Racing will look to follow a similar blueprint with impressive Laurel Park debut winner Dreaming of Alys (Upstart), who will face five rivals, led by the Bob Baffert-trained ‘TDN Rising Star’ Himika (Curlin), going six furlongs in Sunday’s Sorrento.

Dreaming of Alys was acquired privately by Medallion Racing, Agave Racing Stable and Evan Trommer and transferred to D’Amato after shooting up the rail in the stretch en route to a 4 3/4-length victory for Non Stop Stable and London Reid Thoroughbreds and trainer Gary Capuano going 5 1/2 furlongs at Laurel Park June 13. She earned a 62 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.



Medallion Racing, BlackRidge Stables, Schwing Thoroughbreds, Omar Aldabbagh and William Strauss campaign the aforementioned Vodka With a Twist, who has posted a career record of 10-2-4-2 and earnings of $723,350.

“Because of the success of Vodka last year, it just made us look for a horse that we could have a similar angle with,” Medallion Racing Manager Phillip Shelton said. “There are smaller fields (in California) and you have a big opportunity to have a shot to hit the board in a graded stake. Frankly, if we run third, we’re in a great spot financially. It’s a good opportunity to try.”

Dreaming of Alys, a $45,000 Keeneland September graduate, was bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm. Her on-the-rise sire Upstart is responsible for six graded/21 stakes winners worldwide. She was produced by the unplaced Street Sense mare Grammajo, a half-sister to stakes winners Blue Heart (Exchange Rate) and Financial Recovery (Street Cry {Ire}).

Grammajo brought $57,000 from Chad Schumer, agent, carrying a full sister to Dreaming of Alys at the 2023 KEENOV sale. This is also the extended female family of champion sprinter Housebuster.

“She was a bit green the whole way, then started to piece it together,” Shelton said of her debut. “The second that happened, she drew away and really leveled off. I liked the way she did it. She’s an Upstart, he’s obviously had a great year. She should get better with distance. She’s got a good pedigree and is very attractive physically. We’re hoping two turns. To step up to six (furlongs) is gonna be good, a step up to seven (furlongs) will be even better. I think this filly will have an opportunity to be a 3-year-old, too. She’s got enough scope, size and pedigree to make you think so.”

Dreaming of Alys has posted five workouts for D’Amato, including a five-furlong move in :59.40 (6/65) at Del Mar Aug. 3. She’s listed as the third choice at 7-2 on the morning line in the Sorrento. Antonio Fresu will ride.

“They’ve been happy with her,” Shelton said. “The biggest question is, how does she fit? Baffert obviously has the Curlin filly that’s probably the top of the group out there (in California).”

Shelton concluded, “We’re excited to see her run. I’d be lying if I said we weren’t hoping to do another Vodka With a Twist.”