Dance Smartly Stakes (Grade 2)- $175.000 Purse
WO- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Quarter on the Turf
June 27, 2020
It was a surprise to see Sweetness go off at odds of 14/1 for the Grade 2 Dance Smartly Stakes, as she was the pick to win here in the preview. That said, maybe because I had been on a cold streak with my picks to win here was a big reason why people overlooked her. This is the trend with her, though, as for some reason she always has double digits odds. This would actually be the lowest that her odds had been in any of her last five races. Today, that would not matter for her, and her trainer High Voltage, as Sweetness was much the best over the ten furlongs. The victory made both the trainer, and jockey F Prat first time winners of the Dance Smartly. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:58.66, the second fastest of the four races that were run at this distance. Let’s take a look at it!
(½ Mile- :46.98)- Deep Atonement, out of Nakamura Stables, is a fast starter from the outside, and so to is Mo Mentum Farm’s Envy. These two make their way around the opening turn, and after Early Mornings, one of the Mb Stables entries, backs off from the pursuit, they are able to cut over to the rail fairly quickly. Deep Atonement is an eager one, and at first she looks to put a little distance on Envy as well before Envy begins to get closer. After half a mile, Deep Atonement had about a 3/4-lengths lead. Early Mornings, who looks like she might be ambitious herself early, instead dropped back to be the outside horse of a three wide group. This also featured the eventual race winner, High Voltage’s Sweetness. Steinbrenner was between them for Aer Stables, and they all trailed by two and a half lengths. It’s another two and a half to the rest of the field, who are running four wide down the backstretch. From inside to outside, this was Bagina (Chili King Stables), High Ended (Fractious), Shes A Native (Mb Stables), and Nude Beach (Aer Stables).
(3/4 Mile- 1:10.37)- There is not much different to say as we move to this section. The field is content to run down the backstretch in the same manner as they did in the opening half mile without any kind of movement. Let’s move forward!
(Top of Stretch, 2F To Go)- It was not easy for Sweetness over the course of the turn. She had begun getting closer to the two front runners, who remain Deep Atonement and Envy at the top of the stretch, and F Prat was hoping for some room on the rail. This was not materializing, so he gradually moved over Sweetness to the third lane, or at least that was his intention. However, he could not get clearance of Steinbrenner and Early Mornings in order to made the three wide move, so he moved Sweetness back over to the rail. Here, Deep Atonement would win the courteous horse of the race award as she moved down just enough to allow Sweetness to get through. Sweetness would take advantage, and would quickly move up alongside them. Neither Steinbrenner or Early Mornings would get any closer, however. High Ended was starting to come though, however, and was looking like the biggest challenger of those that had been further back.
(Finish- 1:58.66)- Sweetness is full of run in the stretch, taking the lead pretty quickly while being able to stay in the lane that eventually opened up for her. With no challengers coming from behind that are able to make up ground, she wins pretty easily, doing so by two lengths! Envy had much more left in the tank then would Deep Atonement, and she completes the exacta. Deep Atonement finishes in a tight group behind them, but the third spot goes to High Ended, who had some late kick, with fourth going to Nude Beach, who flashed late speed. Deep Atonment is next, defeating Shes A Native, Early Mornings, and Steinbrenner, then eventually, Bagina.
About The Winner- Sweetness, trained by High Voltage, and ridden to victory by F Prat, is a three year old filly by Anybody Home, and is out of Laggy Pip. She was bred in California by Jader Stable as a first quarter two year old, and acquired by High Voltage, via Stetman, in private sales for $40.000. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her fifth in 12 starts, her third stake win and second graded win. Her career earnings are now $343.550.
| ## | Horse Name | Owner Name | Jockey | Odds | Fin | Time | SRF | |||
|
Sweetness | High Voltage | Prat F | 14.50 | 12 | 1:58.66 | ||||
|
Envy | Mo Mentum Farm | Gutierrez Mario | 18.45 | 21 | 1:59.09 | ||||
|
High Ended | Fractious | Beschizza A | 4.20 | 3hd | 1:59.30 | ||||
|
Nude Beach | Aer Stables | Tunon M | 5.40 | 41/2 | 1:59.33 | ||||
|
Deep Atonement | Nakamura Stables | Hernandez R M | 3.85 | 5no | 1:59.44 | ||||
|
Shes A Native | Mb Stables | Garcia Mar | 8.10 | 61/2 | 1:59.46 | ||||
|
Early Mornings | Mb Stables | Bisono J | 4.25 | 7nk | 1:59.59 | ||||
|
Steinbrenner | Aer Stables | Lezcano J | 7.20 | 81 | 1:59.66 | ||||
|
Bagina | Chili King Stables | Leparoux J R | 10.30 | 9 | 1:59.99 |
Track: Firm
Time: :464 1:101 1:342 1:583
$2 Mutuel Prices:
| 1 – Sweetness | 31.00 | 14.90 | 9.20 |
| 9 – Envy | 18.00 | 11.00 | |
| 5 – High Ended | 4.20 |
$1 Exacta: 1 – 9 Paid 214.90
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 9 – 5 Paid 810.40
Scratched: None
— NS
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
