Deceptive Vision training well for Dance Smartly

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – After running second to Sky Treasure in the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes on May 23, Deceptive Vision is on track to stretch out in the Grade 2, $200,000 Dance Smartly Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on turf on Queen’s Plate Day, July 5, trainer Malcolm Pierce said.

Pierce said Deceptive Vision came out of the Nassau well, and he was pleased with her five-furlong breeze in 1:00.20 on the turf training track Sunday.

“So far, we’re on target for the Dance Smartly,” he said. “I’m happy with her. She’s doing good. She’s training good. I was very pleased with her work.”

Deceptive Vision was wide throughout the Nassau under Patrick Husbands and couldn’t hold off Sky Treasure in the final strides. Pierce said he was hopeful for an inside trip in the Dance Smartly.

“Patrick seems to think that if she has an inside post, she’s probably better tucked in because she’s definitely better tracking horses than being headstrong on the lead,” he said. “Hopefully, we get a good post position next time around, and Patrick knows how to ride her. He’s had a trip on her, and she’s had another race under her belt, and we’ll just hope for good racing luck because there’s some pretty nice fillies nominated to that race.”

Overheard, who finished third in the Nassau for Pierce, was not nominated to the Dance Smartly. She likely will make her next start in the Grade 3, $150,000 Modesty Handicap at Arlington Park on July 11 as a prep for the Grade 1, $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes on Aug. 15.

“I’m looking at taking her to Chicago,” Pierce said. “That would get her a trip around that course, and if everything went well and we were high on her after that race, ultimately that could lead to a trip back there for the Beverly D.”