Madam Dancealot may stick to Grade 1 turf this spring

ARCADIA, Calif. – Madam Dancealot, who won the third graded or group stakes of her career in the Grade 2 Santa Ana Stakes at Santa Anita on March 18, may race only in Grade 1 turf races through the spring.

Trainer Richard Baltas said the 4-year-old Madam Dancealot is a candidate for the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on May 26 here, with a possible start in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on April 14 at Keeneland.

“I’ll point her for the Gamely,” Baltas said. “We could take a shot at Keeneland.”

Owned by Slam Dunk Racing, Madam Dancealot closed from seventh in a field of eight to win the Santa Ana Stakes at 1 1/8 miles by a half-length over Midnight Crossing as the 6-5 favorite.

Madam Dancealot has won 5 of 17 starts and earned $489,775. She won the Group 3 Dick Poole Stakes at Salisbury, England, in 2016 before she was purchased for approximately $291,000 at a sale in Ireland and sent to California later that year.

Last year, Madam Dancealot won the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap at Del Mar in July and was later second or third in three consecutive Grade 1 races for 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar, Keeneland, and Santa Anita.