8/22/21
3 WO Dance Smartly Stakes (GII)
$175.000 3yo&Up F&M 1 1/4m Turf 3yo 119 lbs Older 123 lbs +penalties
Some great racing at WO on Sunday and we catch a fine field of seven females set to go the classic mile and a quarter on the famed Toronto turf in the Dance Smartly (GII). It’s a really nice group here today and I’ll not be surprised with any result, but we have to go somewhere and I’ll go to the rail and give Classic Princess the slightest of edges in this one. She looked good in the Matchmaker (GIII) and that was the second start for the new connections, so there is obviously some up-side to her improving on top of that. Another that deserves a big look is High Ended, as she looked sharp taking the RGD (GIII) at DEL in her most recent. That was a tough lot and she drew off late to get home with the win… expect more of that form here.
Again, it’s a deep field one thru seven, so let’s get down to the rail to take this one in.
Here’s The Field –
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Classic Princess | Maxmillion Farm | Hernandez R M | 123 | 2/1 |
Solid type that has looked good since switching hands… well, she looked good before it as well, but, that win in the Matchmaker (GIII) at MTH was long overdue. She shows good speed and can carry it a distance, so I think she’s a horse to watch and may actually be the one to beat. Give her a solid look.
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Sweetness | High Voltage | Gaffalione T | 123 | 7/1 |
She is still looking for her first win of the year, but was close in a trio of races including thirds in the Santa Ana (GIII) and the Bewitched (GIII) then just missed when second in The NY (GII). She threw a bad one last out in the Diana (GI) but it was a tough lot and maybe the yielding turf got to her. Can she bounce back?
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Pink Kitten | Threshold | Fukumoto D | 123 | 9/2 |
Her lone ’21 victory cam vs FLA-bred sprinters on the main track, but don’t be fooled… she looked good when closing late to be third in the Matchmaker (GIII) and both of her recent turf efforts made it look like she wants more ground. Can she pull the upset here?
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Dawning Ice Age | Rock Creek | Bridgmohan S X | 123 | 10/1 |
Her only seasonal win was vs. high-end Alw horses at CD on the soft footing, and she was last of five in the River memories at BEL, going to the marathon distance. Obviously, she needs to turn it around from that race and she may be hoping for rain to soften things up.
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High Ended | John Henry | Bahen S R | 123 | 7/2 |
Looked good closing down late to win the RGD (GIII) last out and she has been sharp in her last four starts. She just missed a nose at GG while facing stakes company, but that last out race certainly makes you think that she has to be feared in this one.
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Maggie Greene | The Sidley Stud | Gutierrez Mario | 123 | 7/2 |
Just missed in her last pair and her only ’21 win came at GP in the Orchard (GIII) back in Mar. Classy gal that has put some serious cash in the bank during her career. She may not be as good as she once was, but she can run huge at any given time. Does she get back to the picture-booth today?
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Here Z Comes | First Street Stables | Ryan S | 123 | 5/1 |
Closed out ’20 and started ’21 with stakes wins, and has been close in her other three ’21 starts. She looked good in her most recent, a runner-up effort in the Vivacious Hcp on a wet Ohio turf course. She is usually around when they hand out checks and she should be in the hunt here as well.
COZMAN 1 / 5 Willie’s Green Card 6 / 5 / 7
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
