Ethnic Dance using Crystal Water as Eddie Read prep

ARCADIA, Calif. – Ethnic Dance showed rapid improvement last summer, going from a maiden race winner in mid-July to a graded stakes winner by Labor Day weekend. If he continues to improve this summer, he could be a Grade 1 winner soon.

On Sunday, Ethnic Dance runs for the first time since September in the $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes for California-breds over a mile on turf at Santa Anita. The race could lead to a start in the Grade 1, $300,000 Eddie Read Stakes on turf at Del Mar on July 20.

“This will prep us for Del Mar,” said Larry Benavidez, assistant trainer to John Sadler. “I think I’ve got him 95 percent fit.”

Benavidez oversees Sadler’s division at the San Luis Rey Downs training center in San Diego County, where Ethnic Dance has been based. Owned by Jenny Craig and Michael Bello, Ethnic Dance has won 3 of 8 starts and earned $249,850. He is a half-brother to the five-time stakes winner Twirling Candy, who earned $944,900.

Benavidez said Ethnic Dance was given a rest over the winter after his win in a division of the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby last September.

“John thought the winter off would help,” Benavidez said. “He’s not a big horse like his brother.”

Ethnic Dance’s success last summer coincided with a move from racing on dirt or synthetic tracks to turf. On turf, Ethnic Dance has won three of four starts.

“He trains well on the dirt, but his stride is pretty to watch on the turf,” Benavidez said.

Ethnic Dance runs near the front and might set the pace in the Crystal Water, which drew a field of nine. The field includes the stakes winners John Scott, Rousing Sermon, Stoney Fleece, and Unusual Heatwave. China Prince, Heat Flash, Jules Journey, and Mega Heat also start.

Mega Heat has won two of his last three starts. Stoney Fleece, 5, was claimed for $62,500 by trainer Jack Carava on April 20, the day he won an optional claimer over 1 1/4 miles on turf.

John Scott, 7, has not raced since winning the Crystal Water Stakes in January 2013. A gelding, John Scott has been limited to 12 starts in an injury-plagued career that began in 2009.

“He goes on the bench and is turned out,” trainer Carla Gaines said. “When he’s better, they bring him back.”

Owned by John Harris, John Scott has won three stakes and was fourth in the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita. Gaines said she has noticed that John Scott has been more relaxed in his training in recent months.

“He’s different this year,” Gaines said. “In previous years, he was keen in his works. He’s a lot more laid-back. Is that a good sign? I don’t know. By himself, you have to urge him to work. In company, he’s better.

“I think he might need a race to get back on his game. He carries more weight than he used to. The last three works, he’s been more focused in leaps and bounds.”