Slave Dream scores Nat Ray win in 1:52

Slave Dream and John Campbell slipped up the rail late and held off favorite Enough Talk to capture the $300,000 Nat Ray Invitational Trot Saturday in a lifetime best 1:52. The victory was the first of the season for the five year old. Reven Damour finished third.

 

When the gate folded, Slave Dream spotted the field significant real estate, but Campbell dropped the Pearsall Hanover gelding to the rail and bided his time as Tac’s Delight took command from post three. Enough Talk (Ron Pierce) and Reven Damour (Fredrik Larsson) took turns on the lead through opening fractions of :27.2 and :55.2. Nearing the half, Mike Lachance had Lanson out and moving from fourth, closing to second by three quarters (1:23.1) while Slave Dream trotted fourth along the pylons.

 

In the stretch, Campbell was able to find room along the inside, sliding past Reven Damour as Enough Talk shook loose on the outside but could not reel in the leader late. Owned by Franco Cianci and Isidoro Russo, Slave Dream earned his 19th career win. The gelding, trained by Frank Oreilly, added another $150,000 to his card, which now boasts $605,605 in earnings. The winning time lowered his previous best, taken at age four, by a full second. Slave Dream returned $16.00, $4.80 and $3.80.