Holiday Disguise proves best in Dancin Renee

Holiday Disguise finished an even third as the odds-on favorite in the 2018 Dancin Renee Stakes, but in the 2019 renewal she was easily best as a $5.60 winner Saturday at Belmont Park.

Holiday Disguise and jockey Jose Lezcano stalked fractions of 22.93 and 46.29 seconds before coming with a three-wide run at the quarter pole. Swooping outside pacesetters Leah's Dream and Pauseforthecause before the eighth pole, Holiday Disguise made the front and comfortably held off a determined run from second-place Jc’s Shooting Star, who was 1 1/2 lengths behind the winner and a half-length better than Midnight Disguise.

Four-year-old Midnight Disguise, by Midnight Lute, is the younger half-sister to 5-year-old Holiday Disguise, by Harlan’s Holiday. Linda Rice trains both horses, who were produced by the Yes It’s True mare Thin Disguise, but it was the Lady Sheila Stable that picked up the victory Saturday in this $100,000 race for New York-bred fillies and mares. Holiday Disguise was timed in 1:10.33 for six furlongs on a fast track while running her career record to a fine 8-1-2 from 16 starts.