Madam Dancelot starts over in Sweet Life

ARCADIA, Calif. – After coming to California from England, Madam Dancealot beat one rival in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita last November.

“I think she kind of lost her mind in the Breeders’ Cup in the paddock,” trainer Richard Baltas recalled Friday. “I don’t think she really ran at all.”

Baltas gave Madam Dancealot a 30-day rest after the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf and turned his attention to 2017. Madam Dancealot will have her first start at 3 in Sunday’s $75,000 Sweet Life Stakes for fillies on the 6 1/2-furlong hillside turf course.

She has much to prove, Baltas said.

“She hasn’t really sparkled in the mornings,” he said. “I’m hoping she shows up in the afternoons. She’s doing everything right. I think she’s settled into the American style of training.”

Owned by Slam Dunk Racing, Madam Dancealot is one of three stakes winners in a field of nine in the Sweet Life.

Miss Sunset won the Generous Portion Stakes for California-bred 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar last August but was last of six in an optional claimer on a muddy track here Jan. 13 in her first start in more than four months. The Sweet Life will be her debut on turf.

Miss Sugars has strong credentials. She won the Blue Norther Stakes at a mile on turf for 2-year-old fillies Dec. 29 in her last start. Last fall, Miss Sugars was fifth and fourth in turf stakes, encountering trouble in both races.

Madam Dancealot won the Group 3 Dick Poole Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs on turf at Salisbury in England last September. She was bought at auction for approximately $290,000 shortly after that race and arrived in California in October.

Madam Dancealot won 2 of 7 starts last year, including a maiden race at six furlongs on turf at Newbury in England last July in her third start.

“I’m hoping she runs well,” Baltas said. “Her races back there were good enough to beat these horses.”