Dancing Kiki and Jose Ortiz do it all the way on the lead to win the Saratoga Dew Thursday at Saratoga. NYRA Photo.
By Mary Eddy
It’s been a long road to black-type glory for Dancing Kiki, who scored a frontrunning victory in Thursday’s $100,000 Saratoga Dew Handicap at Saratoga Race Course. Making her first start for leading trainer Mike Maker and leading owner Michael Dubb after claiming her for $35,000 July 22, Dancing Kiki made easy work of the step up in class.
After nine in-the-money efforts in 15 maiden attempts, she graduated in a $40,000 maiden claimer Jan. 24 at Aqueduct. She went on to win an allowance in her second start against winners and finished off the board in her other stakes try, the Critical Eye Handicap this spring at Belmont Park.
Now with Jose Ortiz aboard in the Saratoga Dew, the 4-year-old Blame filly was hurried to the front of the field of five, having her own way up front has she coasted through a half in :48.48. Dancing Kiki looked to be in trouble at the top of the stretch when runner-up Maiden Beauty and third-place finisher Mrs. Orb made a bid for the lead to her outside and inside.
With a tap of the crop from Ortiz, Dancing Kiki rebroke to hold her lead and finished strong under a hand ride, crossing the finish line 4 1/2 lengths in the clear. The filly covered the 1 1/8 mile in 1:51.71.
“I knew I was going to break sharp coming off a sprint race,” said Ortiz. “The other speed (Simply Ravishing) was coming off the layoff. I knew I had speed, the only question was if she would handle the mile-and-an-eighth, and she did it nicely. She had plenty left in the last eighth, she was still running pretty decently.”
The Saratoga Dew marked the first time the filly had run the 1 1/8-mile distance, but Maker was sure the change would not bother her.
“She was doing well,” he said. “I wasn’t really concerned (about stretching out). Jose seemed to make an easy lead, so that added to the confidence.”
Dancing Kiki won by 5 1/4 lengths last time out and Maker said it was Dubb who made the call to send her to the Saratoga Dew.
“I claimed her on Michael Dubb’s recommendation, and I ran her here on (his) recommendation.”
With Dancing Kiki sired by Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, Blame, Dubb felt her pedigree and versatility in distance were reason to bring the filly to the barn of Maker.
“It was a little bit (about) the breeding… the horse had been running at various distances and I have had luck with Mike stretching horses out,” said Dubb. “I think he’s known for, whether it’s turf or dirt, stretching horses out. It seemed like a horse (who could).”
Currently tied with Three Diamonds Farm for leading owner at Saratoga, Dubb has had a strong presence in New York racing for over two decades and is a top owner at NYRA each year. After his win Thursday, he was reflective about the community he feels in the New York program.
“There’s a lot of camaraderie and good feeling among the participants in the New York-bred program,” he said. “They’re kind of a family, so it’s nice to participate and be (here).”
Foaled at Dutchess Views Farm in Pine Plains and bred by Dutchess Views and SGO Thoroughbred LLC, Dancing Kiki is out of the stakes winning Exchange Rate mare, Justenufappeal. She is also the dam of eight-time winner Amers and two-time winner Impazible Odds.
As for what’s next for his filly, Dubb prefers to savor the moment for now.
“I haven’t really thought about (the next start),” he said. “There are some state-bred races at Belmont, but I think the advantage here was two turns. I’ll leave it up to Mike. The main thing is he got the horse to stretch out. It’s great.”
