Mardukas rallied strongly along the inner rail and powered home through the stretch to prove a determined winner of a $92,000 maiden special weight at 5 ½ furlongs at Churchill Downs on Sunday, becoming the first winner for his sire Always Dreaming, victorious in the 2017 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Florida Derby (G1).
Ridden by jockey Corey Lanerie for trainer Jeff Engler, Mardukas is owned by Daniel Preiss and Chris Province and was bred in Kentucky by Hubert Vester. A graduate of the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, Mardukas is produced from the Pulpit mare Blue Kisses and descends from the female family of Grade 1 winners Videogenic and Valid Video.
Always Dreaming, a two-time Derby winner, was an earner of $2.4 million on the racetrack for owners Brooklyn Boyz Stables, Teresa Viola Racing Stables, Siena Farm LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds, MeB Racing Stables LLC, and St. Elias Stables.
Trained by Todd Pletcher and bred by Santa Rosa Partners, Always Dreaming broke his maiden by an eye-catching 11 ½ lengths in his 3-year-old debut and captured the Florida Derby by five lengths in the fastest time since Alydar in 1978—1:47.47—faster than Quality Road, Scat Daddy, and Empire Maker. He validated those impressive scores with a valiant victory in the $2 million Kentucky Derby (G1), winning the Run for the Roses by 2 ¾ lengths as the favorite in his first start over an off track.
Hailing from the dominant Unbridled sire line, Always Dreaming is produced from the lightning-fast Grade 1-placed Above Perfection, by In Excess (IRE), and is a half-brother to Spinaway S. (G1) winner Hot Dixie Chick, the dam of Pauline’s Pearl, winner of this year’s La Troienne S. (G1).
For more information about Always Dreaming, who stands for $12,500 S&N, contact Liam O’Rourke, Olivia Desch, or Gareth Wigley at 859-873-1717.
