Frankel's 'D Team' eyes repeat

DEL MAR, Calif. - Dance Dreamer gave jockey Kent Desormeaux a win to remember in an allowance race at Hollywood Park on July 6. After squeaking through along the rail to win by a neck, Dance Dreamer unseated Desormeaux during the gallop-out.

"He had me chewing on the grass," Desormeaux said. "I think the birds jumped up in front of him. I trusted him to gallop out like an old champ, but he was full of himself."

On Monday, Desormeaux and Dance Dreamer are reunited in a $65,000 optional claimer over 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar.

Desormeaux will be hoping for the same result, but less post-race excitement.

Trained by Bobby Frankel, Dance Dreamer is seeking his third win since arriving in this country last winter.

"He's very handy," Desormeaux said. "He's not a horse that needs lessons in how to be a racehorse. He's in the Frankel barn as well; that's an added plus."

At Hollywood Park, Dance Dreamer won two of three starts, losing an allowance race on June 9 to the Frankel-trained Blue Steller, who is also in Monday's field.

The field of seven includes Bayou the Moon, the winner of the 2001 Alydar Stakes; Macaneo, who was sixth in the Hollywood Gold Cup; and Sir Alfred, who won the 2001 Ascot Handicap at Bay Meadows.

Bayou the Moon has not started on turf since he won a maiden race at Santa Anita in March 2001.

Blue Steller thrived at Del Mar last year, winning a maiden race by six lengths and finishing third in the Del Mar Derby. He has not started since his June 9 win.

Macaneo is one of two runners entered to be claimed for $100,000, along with the longshot Loyal Tartare. A 5-year-old Argentine-bred, Macaneo finished last of six in the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup July 14, but won two claiming races over a mile on turf at Hollywood Park in June.

Trainer Roger Stein dismissed the Gold Cup as "a failed experiment" after jockey Patrick Valenzuela had Macaneo close to the pace for the first mile.

"Luckily, Patrick took care of the horse in the late stages," Stein said.

Stein is aware that such a loss can lead to a form reversal, but says that Macaneo has trained well in recent weeks.

"I hope he continues in his good form," Stein said. "He's held his weight and he looks good."