Come Dancing has Ruffian Stakes circled on calendar

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Come Dancing, the dominant winner of the Grade 3 Distaff Handicap at Aqueduct on April 5, will make her next start in the Grade 2, $250,000 Ruffian Stakes at Belmont Park on May 5, her connections confirmed Wednesday.

Come Dancing was also being considered for the Grade 1 Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs on May 4.

The Ruffian, a one-turn-mile race, could be a stepping-stone to the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps, a one-turn 1 1/16-mile race at Belmont on Belmont Stakes Day, June 8.

“The Ruffian will be a great race to run in,” said Marc Holliday, co-managing partner of Blue Devil Racing, which owns Come Dancing. “She obviously loves all the NYRA surfaces. It’s a long year, long campaign – don’t need to ask too much too early.”

Holliday was at Belmont on Wednesday to watch Come Dancing work five furlongs in 1:01.29 over the training track. She went from the half-mile pole to the wire in 48.40 seconds and galloped out another eighth in 12.89 seconds.

“Just cruising,” trainer Carlos Martin said. “Couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Manny Franco was aboard for the work, and as he came off the track he said to Martin, “en mano,” meaning in hand.