At age 7, still sharp as ever

CALGARY, Alberta - Dance Me Free seeks to keep his record perfect going a half-mile in a $30,000 claiming race Sunday at Stampede Park.

A British Columbia-bred son of Free at Last, Dance Me Free is 3 for 3 at the distance, including a mild upset a week ago over Wartock, the unofficial king of four-furlong dashes here.

Dance Me Free, a gelding owned by Eric and Kathy Prosser, turned 7 this year but retains some of the class that saw him named champion juvenile colt on this circuit in 2001 and carried him to an upset score in the 2004 Stampede Park Sprint Championship.

Dance Me Free displayed that class last Sunday by dueling with Wartock the length of the stretch and digging in under Desmond Bryan when Wartock poked his head in front nearing the wire. The margin of victory was a nose.

Dance Me Free, trained by Gerry Kipling, has earned $227,667.

Dance Me Free moves up a notch in class and to the outside post in the field of seven Sunday, but that is no detriment as he came from post 8 in his latest tally.

Bryan retains the mount on Dance Me Free, who will have to deal with Hastings invader Daring Mood, likely the main rival for the early lead.

Daring Mood exits the race in which Tricky Thinker set a course record last Sunday.