Gold Rush Dancer upsets Real Good Deal

DEL MAR, Calif. - Gold Rush Dancer was brilliant on turf in May, winning stakes for California-bred 3-year-olds at Golden Gate and Santa Anita. His main track form is equally outstanding this summer.

In Wednesday’s $151,380 Real Good Deal Stakes for California-bred 3-year-olds, Gold Rush Dancer rallied from sixth to win the seven-furlong race in a 14-1 upset.

The Real Good Deal Stakes was the first Del Mar stakes win for owner and breeder John Parker of Washington and trainer Vann Belvoir.

As late as Wednesday morning, Belvoir debated whether to start Gold Rush Dancer in the Real Good Deal Stakes or wait for the $150,000 La Jolla Handicap for 3-year-olds on turf on Aug. 6.

“We’d been pointing for this or the La Jolla,” Belvoir said. “I wasn’t afraid of seven-eighths or the dirt. We didn’t want to miss the opportunity to run in the Cal-bred race.”

Gold Rush Dancer, the sixth choice in a field of 10, raced about three lengths behind pacesetter Taman Guard through the opening quarter-mile and advanced to fourth with a wide rally after a half-mile. Jockey Flavien Prat had Gold Rush Dancer on the outside in the stretch. The colt took the lead with a furlong to go. Gold Rush Dancer held his advantage, winning by a half-length over 10-1 Tough It Out.

Gold Rush Dancer ($30.20) was timed in 1:21.90.

Mrazek, the winner of the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga last September, closed from ninth to finish third. Mrazek raced in traffic on the backstretch. He was second in the final furlong, but was caught late by Tough It Out.

Taman Guard finished fourth, followed by Boy Howdy, Smokey Image, Tribal Fighter, Tough But Nice, Packin Heat and Family Code. Smokey Image was the champion California-bred 2-year-old male of 2015. He won his first start of the year in the California Cup Derby at Santa Anita in January, but is winless in his last five starts.

Gold Rush Dancer, by the Seeking the Gold stallion Private Gold, has won 5 of 12 starts and earned $379,923. He won the Silky Sullivan Stakes at a mile on turf at Golden Gate Fields on May 1 and the Snow Chief Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita on May 28.

Tough It Out and Gold Rush Dancer were first and second in the Echo Eddie Stakes on a sloppy track at Santa Anita on April 9. Tough It Out was second in the Silky Sullivan Stakes and Snow Chief Stakes.