Come Dancing poised to erase any doubts in Ogden Phipps

ELMONT, N.Y. – Come Dancing couldn’t have been more impressive winning her first two starts of the year. Her morning workout couldn’t be any better. She seems primed to run the race of her career in Saturday’s Grade 1, $700,000 Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park.

She’ll need to.

Come Dancing will face division leader Midnight Bisou and just three others in the Phipps, one of eight Grade 1 stakes offered on a sensational 13-race card at Belmont Park, which includes the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes.

The Phipps, which goes as race 5, offers the winner a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff in November at Santa Anita. While the Breeders’ Cup is run around two turns, the Phipps is run around one at 1 1/16 miles. Come Dancing won the Royal Delta under that configuration last fall. This year, she won the Grade 3 Distaff, a one-turn seven-furlong race at Aqueduct, and the Grade 2 Ruffian, a one-turn mile race here.

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In the Distaff, Come Dancing earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 114, the highest figure earned by any horse of any gender at any distance in 2019. In the Ruffian, she earned a 104, perhaps regressing in a race run over a sloppy track and after she broke with her head turned when the doors opened.

It’s not unreasonable to believe those two races could take some starch out of a horse. But in her most recent workout, Come Dancing went six furlongs in 1:11.63 over the Belmont training track.

“From what I’ve seen she just looks like she’s gotten stronger and better,” Carlos Martin, the trainer of Come Dancing, said. “Right now, I wouldn’t trade places with anybody. If she runs the way I expect her to run, I think we’ll see a super performance on Saturday, I really do.”

Come Dancing drew the rail and if she breaks cleanly figures to be on the lead under Manny Franco. She figures to be stalked intently by Escape Clause and perhaps Midnight Bisou.

Those two put on quite a show in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn in April, when Midnight Bisou gutted out a nose victory over Escape Clause. For Midnight Bisou, that was her third win in as many starts this year, putting her squarely atop the older female division.

“I like the three-race win streak she’s on,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “She’s tremendously consistent with her attitude, how she trains – a true professional.”

Though Midnight Bisou has made the last seven starts of her career around two turns, she did win the Mother Goose Stakes here last June, which like the Phipps is a one-turn 1 1/16-mile race. Midnight Bisou won the Mother Goose by six lengths, albeit over only three overmatched rivals.

Escape Clause, who made her first 11 starts at Assiniboia Downs in Canada, has proven to be more than a Canadian wonder horse. She won the Grade 3 La Canada at Santa Anita in January and lost a heartbreaking nose decision to Midnight Bisou in the Apple Blossom. She arrived her Sunday after a two-day van ride from Canterbury.

Pacific Wind has finished 6 3/4 lengths behind Come Dancing in her last two starts. Mopotism is seeking her first since the Grade 2 La Canada at Santa Anita in January 2018.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Come Dancing, by Malibu Moon

Last 3 Beyers: 103-114-102

◗ Her last three Beyers are higher than the career-best Beyers of any of her four rivals.

◗ She has speed and gets six pounds from Midnight Bisou, who is drawn right to her outside.

“I just want the mare to get some respect I think she deserves,” Martin said. “Hopefully, if she can win a Grade 1 she can put herself as one of the top mares because I think she’s got that kind of talent.”

Midnight Bisou, by Midnight Lute

Last 3 Beyers: 101-100-91

◗ Never worse than third in 14 career starts, which includes 12 consecutive graded stakes, of which she has won eight.

◗ She is 7 for 7 at 1 1/16 miles, including a victory in the Mother Goose around one turn here last June.

“I would love a similar performance from her this June,” Asmussen said.

Escape Clause, by Going Commando

Last 3 Beyers: 101-95-88

◗ Any mare that wins 20 of 31 starts deserves respect, regardless of where those wins have come.

◗ Figures to be stalking Come Dancing early under Tyler Baze.

“My filly loves a target in front of her,” trainer Don Schnell said. “That’s how she runs her best race, so we’ll have an eye on Come Dancing. Of course, Midnight Bisou will always be coming. She’s an absolute superstar.”