Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story 2005

In this quiet, character-driven drama, Ben Crane is a skilled horse trainer who pours his energy into the animals while his precocious daughter, Cale, often gets the short end of his attention. The film follows how a difficult balance between work, duty, and family comes to a head on a single, fateful day that changes everything.

A horse named Soñador is set to race, but the mood in their stable is unsettled. The mare initially refuses to leave her stall, and a sense of unease grows as Ben notes a warm sensation in one of her legs. Despite this warning, his boss, Palmer, urges him to push the horse onto the track. The race ends in disaster when Soñador injures herself so badly that Palmer insists she be euthanized. In a decisive and painful bargain, Ben saves the horse by taking ownership, but he loses his job in the process, leaving him with mounting bills and the threat of foreclosure on their home. Soñador is cast and begins the slow process of healing, and a glimmer of hope appears as the horse’s recovery starts to take shape.

Cale forms a tender bond with the horse, often slipping out at night to visit the barn and check on her beloved mentor. She also visits her grandfather, a patient, horse-loving figure who loves teaching his granddaughter about the creatures that fill their lives with meaning. The family faces a test when they search for a stallion to breed with Soñador, but the price is steep. Pop steps in with help, lending Ben the money they need, though it becomes clear that future prospects are still uncertain. A vet visit reveals a crushing truth: Soñador cannot have a foal. The revelation lands hard, and Lilly, Ben’s partner, reminds him that Soñador has already begun to change their lives for the better by bringing them together as a family.

Tension rises as Ben admits a painful hypocrisy—that, had Cale not been there when Soñador was hurt, he might have let the mare be put down. This confession wounds Cale, who feels her father’s ambition and fear pulling him away from the life they could build together. In a moment of heartbreak, she runs away from home, taking the horse with her. Ben wakes to the empty barn, then races after them, discovering just how fast and resilient Soñador has become despite the injury she carried. The dramatic pursuit ends with a hard-won realization: the bond they share may be the most valuable thing in their lives, and it pushes them to reevaluate what they are racing toward.

Father and daughter decide to test their luck again, this time in a claiming race with Sonya driving the result. The outcome stings: the horse is claimed, and Cale channels her anger at her father for exposing her to the avant-garde world of racing. The turning point comes at a school event, where Ben reads a story written by Cale about a king and his horse. The tale awakens him to the deeper need of their family for Soñador in their lives. He buys the horse back with money from Pop, signaling a renewed commitment to the life they could build together.

With renewed purpose, Cale announces her plan to race Soñador in the prestigious Breeders’ Cup Classic, with Manny, a trusted coworker, serving as the jockey. The team attracts a generous sponsor, and training intensifies as they prepare for the big day. On race morning, a fresh worry surfaces: Soñador’s leg feels warm again, and Ben wonders if racing is the right call. Yet the mare refuses to retreat to the stall, showing a determination that mirrors Cale’s own resolve. Manny and Sonya push through the field, and against the odds, they win the race, proving that resilience, trust, and a family’s love can outpace fear and hardship.