It took owners Mike Anderson and Terry Clyde and trainer Jerri Robertson quite a while to get Dream Coach to the races. The 4-year-old First Dude gelding bred by Ponder Hill finally made his first career start yesterday at Century Mile in Alberta, Canada and the wait was worth it. 

    Despite the circumstances, Dream Coach was sent off at 9/2 in the $17,000 maiden special weight test at six furlongs, due to a series of sharp morning trials at Century. Among them, he posted a three-furlong work in :34.80; two at four furlongs – :46.60 and :47.00 – and one at five furlongs – :1.00.40. and then lived up to them.

    With Mauricio Malvaez aboard, Dream Coach broke well and pushed Great Vision to a half in :46.16, before collaring the pace-setter on the turn, taking the lead in the stretch and holding off one late closer to win by a head in 1:11.89. The maiden-breaker was worth $10,200 in Canadian money for the patient owners, or $7,898 in U. S. dollars as Dream Coach became winner No. 37 this year for First Dude, tying him for second among all Florida stallions.