Overheard prevails in tight finish in Dance Smartly Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The Malcolm Pierce trainees Overheard and Deceptive Vision were hard to separate as part of a blanket finish in Sunday’s $210,400 Dance Smartly Stakes at Woodbine, and Overheard got the nod in the Grade 2 event for fillies and mares.

“Both fillies ran hard, and they both deserved to win,” Pierce said. “It was unfortunate that one had to lose, but it’s nice get the exactor.”

The favored Deceptive Vision set a moderate pace in the Dance Smartly, which was run over about nine furlongs on an extra-firm turf course.

Overheard saved ground on the turn before mounting a strong wide rally down the center of the course to prevail by a nose in 1:44.25.

“I was very confident that I won the race,” said winning rider Eurico Da Silva, who waved his whip at the finish.

Savvy Hester was another nose back in third, and English Class finished another neck back in fourth in the eight-horse field.

Overheard ($7.20) earned $120,000 for the Pin Oak Stable of Josephine Abercrombie, who was in attendance.

“She’s just very special,” Abercrombie said. “We’ve adored her since the beginning. She’s run beautifully since Malcolm’s had her.”