Stays in Vegas looms large in Pike Place Dancer Stakes
When asked last weekend if he planned to enter Stays in Vegas in Sunday’s $75,000 Pike Place Dancer at Golden Gate Fields, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said, “There are lots of races for her.”
But as he reflected, Hollendorfer decided that the Pike Place Dancer was the best spot for his talented 2-year-old filly. She looms as the one to beat in the one-mile turf test that drew seven entrants, including three trained by Hollendorfer.
Stays in Vegas is Northern California’s top 2-year-old filly, winning the Juan Gonzalez Memorial at Pleasanton and the Wine Country Debutante at Santa Rosa in her first two starts. After running a disappointing fifth behind her talented stablemate Songbird in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante, Stays in Vegas won the Surfer Girl Stakes at one mile on turf at Santa Anita in her most recent start.
Only one other runner in the field has won at a mile, Joan of Arch, who dipped down to maiden-claiming company to win at the distance in her last start at Santa Anita.
And only one other runner has won on turf. Corps de Ballet graduated in her last start, sprinting down the hillside course at Santa Anita.
Stays in Vegas’s stablemates Kiss N Scat and Cajun Cookin could be as tough as any other competition she will face in this race.
KEY CONTENDERS
Stays in Vegas (Last 3 Beyers: 82-58-70)
◗ What’s not to like about the only stakes winner in the field? She’s a stakes winner on turf and the winner of Northern California’s two previous stakes races for 2-year-old fillies.
◗ She is willing to relax and has a strong closing kick, which works well on the turf, but she does have some early foot, which can be important on this track.
◗ Hollendorfer brings up Hall of Fame rider Alex Solis from Southern California to ride.
Kiss N Scat (Beyers: 76-33)
◗ She did little in her first start but was very impressive winning start No. 2 here.
◗ She is working nicely and has breeding that suggests she should be able to pass her first tests around two turns and on turf.
◗ She figures to get a dream trip in this spot. Hollendorfer thinks highly of her and isn’t afraid to match her against one of his best 2-year-old fillies.
Corps de Ballet (Last 3 Beyers: 80-30-58)
◗ She’s the daughter of a Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner, and her dam earned black type on the turf. She seems capable of running quite well up front with the ability to get one mile. She is the only other turf winner in the field.