Blue Dancer runs away with Count Lathum

The heavily favored Blue Dancer paid $3 and stayed undefeated in Canada with an easy 8 1/4-length win Saturday in the $50,000 Count Lathum at Northlands Park.

The 1 1/16-mile Count Lathum is the final prep for the Grade 3, $200,000 Canadian Derby, and Blue Dancer left little doubt he is the local favorite for the 1 3/8-mile race Aug. 15.

With Rico Walcott aboard, Blue Dancer broke sharply and cruised on the lead while posting moderate fractions of 48.66 seconds for the half-mile and 1:12.66 for six furlongs. He held a six-length lead heading into the stretch and widened his margin under strong urging from Walcott. Purple Heaven chased the winner the whole way and held on to finish second. Aztec Key came from a stalking position to finish third.

“I just tried to get him to relax for me as long as I could,” said Walcott. “Once he got to the rail, he was very relaxed, and I could do whatever I wanted with him.”

The final time over a track rated good was 1:44.15.

Blue Dancer, whose only loss came in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, is trained by Greg Tracy.

He is owned by Derby Quest Farm Ltd. and Shot in The Dark Racing Corp.