Saratoga: Winning Cause back on turf in Dance of Life Stakes

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Todd Pletcher wanted to try Winning Cause on grass again this summer and was rewarded for that decision with a victory in the one-mile Sir Cat Stakes here four weeks ago. On Wednesday, Pletcher will give Winning Cause a second opportunity to pick up black type on turf when he goes postward as the favorite in the $100,000 Dance of Life Stakes.

Winning Cause, a son of Giant’s Causeway, already is a Grade 3 winner, having captured the Lexington Stakes over the Polytrack at Keeneland this spring. He’ll face just six rivals in the Dance of Life if the race goes as scheduled at a mile on turf, including One More Cat, who finished a rail-skimming third in the Sir Cat.

“I thought he ran very well here on the grass and seems to be training really well,” Pletcher said of Winning Cause. “We’re just taking the opportunity to run him in a nice $100,000 stakes, and we’ll continue to manage him accordingly. I think he’ll handle a little further, but a mile is a good distance for him.”

Pletcher also was pleased with the way several of his upcoming stakes starters breezed over the main track Monday, including Authenticity, who worked an easy half-mile without company in 49.60. Authenticity, winner of the Grade 3 Shuvee earlier in the meet, will take on Royal Delta in the Personal Ensign here Sunday.

“Her last two breezes have been exceptional,” Pletcher said of Authenticity. “It’s going to be a tall order to beat Royal Delta. We were fortunate to win a couple of races against her last year, but we also have a lot of respect for how hard that is to do.”

Pletcher also worked two of his three prospective starters for the Grade 1 Spinaway on Sept. 1 – Stop Charging Maria and Elena Strikes who went five furlongs in 1:01.13 in company Monday.

“Right now, we’re looking at running both those fillies along with Sweet Whiskey in the Spinaway,” Pletcher said.