Dance Rhythms tries to keep Foley barn rolling in IU Hoosier Stakes

Dance Rhythms will attempt to keep the turf-sprint stakes success flowing for her barn Wednesday when she starts in the $65,000 IU Hoosier Stakes at Indiana Grand.

Dance Rhythms’s trainer, Greg Foley, on Sunday saddled Yes It’s Ginger and Skinny Dip to first- and third-place finishes in the Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Sprint at Ellis Park. Those runners have been entered in the IU Hoosier, but will be scratched from the field of 11.

The IU Hoosier, for 3-year-old fillies and up, will share a card with the $65,000 William Garrett, for 3-year-olds and up. Both stakes will be run over five furlongs on the grass.

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Dance Rhythms enters off a third-place finish to Skinny Dip in a second-level allowance sprint that came off the turf July 11 at Ellis Park. Back in February, Dance Rhythms was a close second to Yes It’s Ginger at a similar level at Fair Grounds.

Foley claimed Dance Rhythms for $10,000 in June 2018, and since then she has won 6 of 28 starts.

“She’s been a fun little horse to have,” said Travis Foley, son of and assistant to Greg Foley. “She’s very honest, versatile. She’s turf or dirt.”

Dance Rhythms’s first two wins came on dirt. She is 2 for 3 over the turf course at Indiana Grand.

Dance Rhythms, who has never won a stakes, tends to settle in mid-pack or farther back early in her races.

“She’s more of a closer,” said Travis Foley. “Her best races on the grass are kind of just a one punch. The little mare gets down and gets to grinding. Her best races, the last sixteenth she kind of finds her stride.”

Dance Rhythms will break Wednesday from post 7 under James Graham, who has the mount for Randy Exelby and Tagg Team Racing.

Among the chief threats in the IU Hoosier is Carimba, who makes her stakes debut. She’s won 3 of 4 starts, all at five-eighths on the grass. Deshawn Parker has the mount for Stonestreet Stable and trainer Wesley Ward.

Mark of the Z will be looking for the 10th win of his career when he starts in the William Garrett. Eight were entered, including main track-only runner Copper Town.

Mark of the Z enters off a turf sprint win over second-level allowance rivals July 4 at Arlington Park. The Beyer Speed Figure of 90 that he earned will be the best last-race turf number in the field Wednesday.

Angaston, who earned a 92 for a win in a third-level allowance while in a for an $80,000 optional tag June 17 at Churchill Downs, will be scratched, said trainer Lon Wiggins.

Mark of the Z drew post 3. Orlando Mojica has the mount for Jose G. Rodriguez and trainer Fernando Bahena.