Danse Macabre familiar with the tune in Music City

It’s a unique tune they’re trying to play in the Grade 3, $1 million Music City Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday at Kentucky Downs. On paper, the race, which has drawn a full field of 12, plus four also-eligibles, is 6 1/2 furlongs. However, because of the unique, undulating turf course at the Franklin, Ky., venue, with the last furlong a gradual uphill climb, that trip can feel closer to seven furlongs or more than a true sprint.

“I think six and a half feels like seven,” said trainer Kelsey Danner, who bookends the field with graded stakes winners Danse Macabre and Mohawk Trail. “I think they have to be fit. . . . This distance fits both. I’d be comfortable running both from five and a half to a mile.”

Danse Macabre, who has drawn the rail under regular rider Adam Beschizza, has the plus of a good race over this course and distance, winning the Untapable Stakes in September 2022.

“I think that’s a big thing because some horses absolutely hate it,” Danner said of the course. “It’s nice to know that she likes it. She ran really well on it last year.”

Danse Macabre opened this year with two wins, taking the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride at a mile at Gulfstream and the Mamzelle at 5 1/2 furlongs at Churchill Downs before she encountered “a little setback,” according to Danner. She got 30 days off training before returning to the work tab July 24 to begin preparations for her first start since May 3.

“She’s doing really well,” Danner said. “She’s been breezing solid. She’s run [well] fresh before.”

Although Mohawk Trail, who drew post 12 with Julien Leparoux taking over the mount from Beschizza, has not run on this course before, “she’s pretty straightforward about everything,” Danner said. The filly has recently hit her best stride, winning the Alywow going 6 1/2 furlongs at Woodbine before stretching out to win the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen at a mile there July 22.

Mohawk Trail rallied from seventh early in that race and stands to benefit from what could be a good amount of pace in the Music City.

Queen Picasso won the Grade 3 Soaring Softly going seven furlongs at Belmont in just her second start, then set the pace in the Ontario Colleen before finishing second by 1 1/2 lengths. She should be forward from post 3 under Jamie Spencer.

Next door is Malleymoo with Jose Ortiz in the irons. She won the Penn Oaks at a mile on the lead on June 2 before being sold at Fasig-Tipton in July. She now makes her first start for Todd Pletcher. Graded stakes winner American Apple, along with stakes winner Determined Jester and graded stakes-placed Bling and Secret Money, are likely to be forwardly placed as well.

Danse Macabre would like to be stalking in the vanguard, while Mohawk Trail will be coming late with her rally.

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“They can do whatever the jockey wants,” Danner said. “I feel like there should be speed. . . . Danse should be right off the pace, probably in the pocket. Mohawk, from 12, Julien will have to work out a trip. She always breaks sharp, and go from there.”

One race prior, the $1 million Gun Runner Stakes for 3-year-olds has drawn a talented field of 10 with plenty of familiar faces. Wadsworth and Highway Robber made up the exacta, separated by just a head, in the Kentucky Downs Preview Dueling Grounds Derby on Aug. 5 at Ellis Park. That race was at 1 1/8 miles. Rather than stretching out to 1 5/16 miles for Sunday’s Grade 3, $1 million Dueling Grounds Derby, both run at a mile here, ultimately a distance closer to what they traveled last out.

Wadsworth has seemingly found his home on turf after poor efforts on dirt early in his career and a good winter on Tapeta at Turfway Park. After finishing second by a nose in the Caesars Handicap in Indiana, the gelding has now won back-to-back stakes on the Ellis turf for Brad Cox, winning the American Derby before the preview race.

This will be a stern class test on the surface. The field also includes three-time turf graded stakes winner Major Dude, most recently fourth against a solid field in the Grade 2 Secretariat at Colonial Downs, beaten a total of two lengths after leading. Also entered are stakes winner Talk of the Nation, second in the Grade 3 Manila last out, and turf stakes winner Gaslight Dancer. Gaslight Dancer is the only member of the field to race on this course, winning his maiden at seven furlongs last year.

The early pace is likely to be slow, with a lack of committed speed in the field. Wadsworth came from farther back at Ellis Park, but showed an ability to be forwardly placed in his Tapeta starts, leaving Florent Geroux with options. Talk of the Nation pressed the pace in second throughout the Manila. Major Dude would like to sit just off the pace from the outside.

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