Dancing Allstar back facing fillies in Debutante

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Dancing Allstar will try to avenge her heartbreaking loss against the boys in the July 21 Colin Stakes when she faces fellow 2-year-old fillies in the $125,000 Ontario Debutante Stakes at Woodbine Saturday.

Dancing Allstar won first time out at Hastings, before trainer Terry Jordan shipped her to his Woodbine barn. She won the My Dear Stakes on July 2 with authority, getting an 88 Beyer Speed Figure for covering the five furlongs in 57.40 seconds.

Dancing Allstar then was bet down to 2-5 in the six-furlong Colin. With Todd Kabel aboard, she opened up a five-length lead after a half-mile in 44.80, and appeared to be long gone exiting the turn. Bear Holiday closed with a flurry in the stretch, however, and he beat her by a nose while earning an 86 Beyer.

Jordan was disappointed with the Colin result.

"He just [rode her] with too much confidence," Jordan said of Kabel. "I would like to have the race run over again, and I guarantee you the result would be different. She was out there flopping along on an easy lead, and she thought the race was over. She didn't know [Bear Holiday] was coming. The good part is that she still thinks she won."

Jim McAleney, who returned to riding this week after fracturing his femur in the spring, picks up the mount on Dancing Allstar.

Jordan said he believes that she can be rated.

"I think she'll rate," he said. "I'd be surprised if you can't do whatever you want with her. She's been a perfect lady ever since the day she came to the track this spring."

Dancing Allstar breezed a half-mile in 49 seconds on the Polytrack Aug. 9. "We just let her stretch her legs a little," Jordan said. "She's been training very well."

Miss Van Gogh is an off-the-pace threat under David Clark, who has won the Ontario Debutante five times.

After winning her debut, Miss Van Gogh finished fifth in 5 1/2-furlong allowance, which was won by another Debutante contender, Poco Uno.

Trainer Josie Carroll said Miss Van Gogh spun her wheels in her second start.

"She didn't handle the track," Carroll said. "It seemed very cuppy that day, and she didn't get a hold of it at all, unlike in her first race."

Carroll is content with the way Miss Van Gogh has been training, and said the distance should be suitable for her.