Always Dreaming

Always Dreaming
Always Dreaming (right) next to rival Classic Empire in the Preakness.
Sire	Bodemeister
Grandsire	Empire Maker
Dam	Above Perfection
Damsire	In Excess (IRE)
Sex	Colt
Foaled	(2014-02-25) February 25, 2014 (age 3)
Country	United States
Colour	Dark bay or brown
Breeder	Santa Rosa Partners
Owner	MeB Racing, Brooklyn Boyz, Teresa Viola, St. Elias (Vincent Viola), Siena Farm and West Point
Trainer	Todd Pletcher
Record	7: 4-1-1
Earnings	$2,284,700
Major wins
Florida Derby (2017) American Triple Crown wins: Kentucky Derby (2017)

Florida Derby (2017)

Always Dreaming (foaled February 25, 2014) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He won the Florida Derby in his first graded stakes race appearance, and then won the 2017 Kentucky Derby.

Always Dreaming is a dark bay colt who was bred in Kentucky by Santa Rosa Partners (Gerry Dilger and Mike Ryan). He is from the first crop of foals sired by Bodemeister, the runner-up in both the 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. The dam of Always Dreaming, Above Perfection, was an exceptional sprinter who won the Las Flores Handicap in 2002. Above Perfection's earlier foals include Grade I winner Hot Dixie Chick. Although both Bodemeister and Above Perfection were known for their speed, there are multiple stamina influences further back in the pedigree.

Always Dreaming was sold at the Keeneland September 2015 Yearling Sale for $350,000. He was bought by Anthony Bonomo's Brooklyn Boyz Stables and his wife Mary Ellen's MeB Stables. "My son (Anthony Jr.) was doing the bidding. I was working. I gave him the budget and thank God he went over it," said Bonomo. "I could tell you that two years ago, on the day we bought the horse, I was really upset. You flash forward two years and I can't kiss him enough. He has a keen eye."

In the summer of 2016, Bonomo and Vincent Viola, both long-time racing fans from Brooklyn, decided to join forces, a move that affected the ownership of Always Dreaming. Viola owns St. Elias Stable and his wife is the owner of Teresa Viola Racing Stable. "I'm a couple of years older (than Bonomo), but we played baseball together and, you know each other from the neighborhood," said Viola before the 2017 Kentucky Derby. "When I got back into the Thoroughbreds, I called Anthony. We were doing the same thing separately, so we decided to do it together, and that's exactly what you see here."

In early 2017, the Bonomos and Violas sold a minority interest in Always Dreaming to West Point Thoroughbreds and Siena Farm.

Originally trained by Dominick Schettino, Always Dreaming was transferred to the barn of Todd Pletcher in September 2016.