Blue Dancer moves up via DQ in Edmonton Juvenile
Following a stewards’ inquiry, Blue Dancer was moved up to first in a roughly run edition of the $51,020 Edmonton Juvenile at Northlands Park on Saturday. He paid $3.90 as the heavy favorite in the six-horse field.
Purple Heaven finished in front of Blue Dancer in the six-furlong sprint for 2-year-old colts and geldings, but he drifted in midstretch and caused a chain reaction that resulted in Artie in the Park, who finished fifth, almost going through the rail. The stewards disqualified Purple Heaven and placed him fifth. Feetdontfailmenow was moved up to second and Airship, who wasn’t involved in the four-horse incident, was placed third.
With Rico Walcott aboard, Blue Dancer was in a stalking position early while Feetdonfailmenow and Purple Heaven dueled through interior fractions of 22.59 and 46.42 seconds over a track rated muddy. When the leaders drifted out on the stretch turn, Walcott moved Blue Dancer towards the rail but outside of Artie in the Park. Blue Dancer and Artie in the Park were moving as a team when Purple Heaven, with Heribert Martinez riding, drifted in and knocked Feetdontfailmenow into Blue Dancer, who then cut off Artie in the Park. Artie in the Park was ridden by Ismael Mosquiera.
“I felt a lot of pressure from the outside and I could hear Ismael screaming so I tried to keep my horse from cutting him off,” said Walcott.
Trained by Greg Tracy, Blue Dancer posted a final time of 1:13.69.
Tracy also won the $50,060 Princes Margaret for 2-year-old fillies with Macho Babe. The six-furlong dash that drew eight horses was run as an exhibition race, and was held after the last race. It was scheduled for Friday night, but due to adverse weather conditions, the card was canceled.
With Scott Williams, aboard, Macho Babe broke on top, and after posting rapid fractions of 22.00 and 46.00, she held a five- length advantage heading in the stretch. She tired late, but never looked threatened while holding off Quality Lane to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Shanali finished third.
The final time was 1: 13.30.
Blue Dancer and Macho Babe are owned by Derby Quest Farms Ltd. and Shot in The Dark Racing Corp.