Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint: Dance to Bristol works

Dance to Bristol, the pride of the Bowie training center in Maryland, had her final workout toward the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint when speeding five furlongs Friday in 58.60 seconds.

With trainer Ollie Figgins III watching, Xavier Perez, who has ridden Dance to Bristol in her last eight races – winning all but the most recent one – was aboard for the drill. The 4-year-old Speightstown filly was scheduled to be flown Saturday to California.

“I generally don’t like to let her rock that much,” Figgins told the Maryland Jockey Club, adding that he wanted a stern work before the filly runs in the biggest race of her life.

Perez, a 25-year-old native of Puerto Rico, has never ridden in a Breeders’ Cup event.

“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,” he said.

Dance to Bristol, owned by Susan Wantz, has a remarkable record of 10 wins and 8 seconds from 19 career starts. She figures as one of the favorites in the seven-furlong Filly and Mare Sprint behind Groupie Doll, the defending champion who was scheduled to have her final prerace drill Saturday at Santa Anita. Thirteen are pre-entered.