GL to the Diva, Susan, Ollie, Xavier, !
A Dance To Bristol
Bt Scott Wykoff
WBAL
Some consider it racing’s biggest stage.
Next weekend a horse that trains right here in Bowie will take to that stage in hopes of beating some of the best fillies and mares in the world to the wire at Santa Anita Park in the Breeders’ Cup.You could say this Maryland-based mare is now officially a diva.
Dance to Bristol put in her final work at the Bowie Training Center Friday morning ahead of the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.
With regular jockey Xavier Perez aboard the Ollie Figgins III trainee stopped the clock in 58.60, the fastest drill of the morning at the 5-furlong distance.
What a thrill it must be for Ollie, Xavier and all of Dance to Bristol’s connections.
“To have the opportunity to ride a horse of this caliber is a dream come true,” Perez said. “We are going to the Super Bowl of racing, going against the best of the best. It is an unbelievable feeling to know that I am going into the race with a horse that has a shot to win the race. We have been competing against most of the same runners next weekend.”
Yes, they are on the way to Southern California for the Breeders’ Cup.Dance to Bristol has won seven of her nine starts this year, including three graded stakes races. The daughter of Speightstown began her 4-year old campaign with a second place finish in the What A Summer Stakes at Laurel Park in January.
Then with Perez picking up the mount, the filly reeled off seven straight victories from February through August, including a win in the Skipat Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on Preakness weekend (above) and three graded races in New York: Bed Of Roses (G3), Honorable Miss (G2) and Ballerina (G1). Not too shabby I would say. No wonder Dance to Bristol is Breeders; Cup bound.
In addition to the thrill of a lifetime trip to the Breeder’s Cup winner’s circle, a victory on one of racing’s biggest stages could also mean an Eclipse Award for Dance to Bristol. The Eclipse Award is racing’s biggest “post season” honor. This blogger knows firsthand after being incredibly honored to have won an Eclipse Award for coverage of Barbaro’s breakdown in the Preakness.
“We have a very live shot and I always feel that with her,” added Figgins. “Every time she goes to the gate I feel like she is going to be the winner because she gives it her all. It is a great thrill to have a nice horse with the talent to go to New York and win graded races. The Bed of Roses performance was the race where I knew she was a horse of that caliber. It has been a lot of fun.”
Dance To Bristol has 10 wins and eight second place finishes in 19 career starts with earnings of $980,880. She has raced nine times in Maryland during her career with five victories and four runner-up finishes. She broke her maiden on Oct. 29, 2011 at Laurel and also captured the 2012 Marshua Stakes at the central Maryland track.
A week from now a little lady from Bowie will be running the race of her life on one of Thoroughbred racing’s biggest stages.Keep your fingers crossed for Dance To Bristol.
