Frac Dancer benefits from scratches, edges Runnin' Rocket in Texas Glitter
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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The complexity of Saturday’s $100,000 Texas Glitter Stakes changed dramatically at scratch time after the two morning-line favorites, No Nay Mets and Bonus Move, were declared when the race was switched from turf to the synthetic Tapeta track, taking away two of the main speed horses in the field.
This played to the advantage of Frac Dancer, also a speedster, who made every call a winning one en route to a half-length victory over Runnin’ Rocket in the five-furlong dash for 3-year-olds.
Frac Dancer came into the Texas Glitter having been idle since registering a neck decision in the Clarendon Stakes for Canadian-breds at Woodbine on December 2. The win was the second in as many starts for the son of Frac Daddy, who used similar front-running tactics to win his debut over the same course six weeks ago.
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With Emisael Jaramillo aboard, Frac Dancer broke a bit slow but recovered to set the pace, settled into the stretch with a clear advantage, then held sway over Runnin’ Rocket despite lugging in some and while never switching off his left lead in the run down the lane.
The latter raced well placed while saving ground, eased out for the drive, but could not reach the winner. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to the pacepressing Lightning Clouds, who finished third. Reef Runner, the 8-5 favorite, checked in fourth while never a serious factor.
Trained by Michael De Paulo, Frac Dancer returned $7.80 after completing the distance in 55.63 seconds.
“We were going to run on the turf for certain, but I guess we were happy to run on the Tapeta,” De Paulo said. “He’s fast, but I really didn’t want to be on the lead. They went really fast, 21 and change, and I thought ‘uh oh’ but I guess the track is probably a little faster (after the rain).”
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