NYRA/Chelsea Durand
By Sarah Mace
Sprinter Court Dancer (War Chant), a Saratoga debut maiden breaker in 2013 for trainer George Weaver, and claimed last October 25 for $40,000 by trainer Rudy Rodriguez for Michael Dubb when dead-heating for victory, became a stakes winner on Sunday at Aqueduct when she led every step of the way to win the $100,000 Broadway Stakes for New York-bred fillies and mares.
Sharp out the gate from her rail post under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., Court Dancer assumed a comfortable one-length lead over Blithely in the early stages, carving out the first quarter mile in 24.06 and, quickening the pace in the next panel, clocking a half in 47.30.
Court Dancer was still in control at the top of the stretch, but the formidable veteran Willet was waiting in the wings, angling out four wide into the stretch to launch her bid.
Court Dancer kept to business. Even though Willet eroded her lead with every stride in the final furlong, Court Dancer dug in and reached the wire with a neck to spare in a final time of 1:10.79. Blithely stayed in the game to finish third, 2 1/2 lengths behind Willet. Completing the order of finish were Myfourchix, who made a middle move then faded, Make the Moment and Tricky Zippy. Favored in the wagering, Court Dancer paid $4.90 to win. [VIDEO]
Court Dancer who finished a close-up second in her first two starts for her new connections in conditioned state-bred allowance company, has now won six of 21 starts with four seconds and two thirds and earned $324,868. As a juvenile she finished second to Miss Narcissist in the Joseph A. Gimma.
Rodriguez said, “I have to give all the credit to [jockey] Irad [Ortiz]. The first quarter we looked pretty good and she finished strong. She seems to be peaking right about now and running well for us.”
Ortiz followed up, “She broke good and my filly went right along. I just tried to relax her and we were able to go a little slow so we could save something for the end. Looking at the race on paper, the fillies we faced today would run at the end and she was ready when I asked her. Rudy brought her into the race ready and when I hit her left [handed] she came back in the stretch.”
Sole owner Michael Dubb gave some insight into the reasons for claiming the 5-year-old mare. Said Dubb, “I drew a line through her performances [during the summer] when we claimed her. She had great inner-dirt track form and was a speed horse. It was the first time she dropping in a claimer and with the winter coming, it was an opportune time.”
Bred by Akindale Farm in Pawling where she was foaled, Court Dancer is one of five winners, and the first stakes winner out of Gosh All Get Out. A placed daughter of D’Accord bred by John Hettinger, Gosh All Get Out is a full sister to stakes winner Jay’s Crown and her winning dam Emiress (Damascus) is a full sister to multiple graded stakes winners Honorable Miss and Bail Jumper.
Court Dancer was originally purchased by Daniel Collins at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton Preferred New York-bred yearling sale for $35,000.
