Only to You faces American duo

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Only to You finally won her first stakes a month ago, the Grade 3 Nassau, and she should be favored to double up in Saturday's Grade 3 Dance Smartly Handicap at Woodbine.

A pair of American shippers, Good Game and Badouizm, were also entered in the 1 1/8-mile turf race, which is worth $171,300.

The Dance Smartly is named for the 1991 Canadian horse of the year. Dance Smartly raced for Sam-Son Farm and is the dam of Dancethruthedawn, who won this year's Queen's Plate for Sam-Son.

Only to You, also owned by Sam-Son, was beaten a nose in the 2000 Dance Smartly, and that came on the heels of another heartbreaking loss in the 2000 Nassau.

Only to You was third in each of her first two outings of the year, in allowance company at Keeneland and the Fair Grounds. Most recently in the 1 1/16-mile Nassau, she won by a half-length over Heliotrope, last year's champion turf female in Canada.

Trainer Mark Frostad said he felt confident going into the Nassau, which was run on soft turf, noting that Only to You finished fifth last summer over yielding turf in the Grade 1 Beverly D at Arlington.

"She ran a very good race in the Beverly D," Frostad recalled. "She had to carry 123 pounds, and was only beaten 3 3/4 lengths."

Todd Kabel retains the mount on Only to You.

Good Game and Badouizm finished third and fourth, respectively, in the Grade 3 Mint Julep Handicap at Churchill Downs May 19.

Good Game led all the way for an easy score over yielding turf last time out in a Churchill allowance. She took the Grade 3 Valley View Stakes last fall at Keeneland for trainer Neil Howard.

Badouizm, based at Arlington with trainer Dick Lundy, is coming off a five-length triumph in an optional claimer at Hawthorne.

Rounding out the field are Free Vacation, Bristol Pistol, Dark Ending, Alexis, Nymphenburg, Byzantine, Except for Wanda, and Diadella.

Diadella, fourth in the Nassau, could be the sleeper in her third start of the year.

"I've always loved this filly," said trainer Malcolm Pierce. "I don't think she's run to her potential this year. I think she was a little short in both of her races in the spring, and we've got some works into her now."

Except for Wanda captured last year's Dance Smartly in an upset for trainer Bruce Smither. She finished third in her seasonal debut on the main track June 23.