Gierkink's review: Dance Again earns solid-looking win

Dance Again was the deserving 7-10 favorite in the featured seventh, an optional claiming grass route, but she experienced a few tense moments before prevailing in a professional manner under Patrick Husbands. After saving ground on the turn, she was blocked behind the leaders early in the stretch before closing strongly along the rail to beat longshot Floral Sky, who enjoyed clear sailing on the outside.

Dance Again has graded stakes experience, and the Malcolm Pierce-trained 4-year-old could reappear in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly here July 6. Her owner, Sam-Son Farm, campaigned the great Canadian champion Dance Smartly, who happens to be the third dam of Dance Again.

Track trends

The outside seemed like the place to be in the eight Polytrack events, although I wouldn’t call it a powerful bias. The lone inside winner was first-time Lasix-user Friend Dale, who halved in price to beat $16,000 maidens after a stalking trip in the two path on the turn.

Eurico Da Silva rode three winners on the card, and trainer Reade Baker scored with a pair of droppers. They combined to take the fourth with the odds-on choice, Big Brown Brookski.

Horse to watch

STEEL DUST DANCER
Trainer: Don MacRae
Last race: June 6, 9th
Finish: 1st by 10
Beyer: 88

He toyed with a field of $20,000 non-winners of three types, scoring under a hand ride in 1:44.16, a rapid clocking that was a second faster than an Ontario-sired allowance on the same card. This late-developing 4-year-old by Unbridled’s Song shouldn’t have a problem winning a first-level allowance if he stays in the zone.