Step Dancer snatches victory from the jaws of defeat in Cab Calloway

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Dreamer’s Disease opened up a five-length lead in midstretch of the Cab Calloway division of the New York Stallion Stakes series and looked uncatchable. At least that was the view of Dylan Davis, the rider of Step Dancer, who did indeed catch Dreamer’s Disease in the final strides to win Wednesday’s $150,000 Cab Calloway at Saratoga.

Step Dancer was sixth of eight for the opening six furlongs of the Cab Calloway and farther back than Davis had wanted early on. But when Davis was able to swing Step Dancer into the clear in upper stretch, he kicked hard and was able to get there in time to win by a neck.

“He had a lot of ground to make up, I really wasn’t sure he was going to,” Davis said. “He was on a mission and he made it close and was able to get the job done. He ran a superb race. I was very happy with the way ran. He’s just getting better.”

Dreamer’s Disease, running as a gelding for the first time, finished second by 4 3/4 lengths over It’s Gravy. Gator Blue was fourth followed by Barrage, Devious Mo, Ocala Dream and Tales of Saratoga.

Step Dancer, a son of War Dancer trained by Barclay Tagg, was back on the course over which he won his debut last September at odds of 24-1. Wednesday, he was the 7-5 favorite, returning $4.90 to win. He ran a mile in 1:35.83.

In his two most recent starts, Step Dancer was a late-running third in a New York-bred allowance and a hard-charging second to Ocala Dream in a division of the NYSS at Belmont going seven furlongs.

Davis said he would have liked to have kept Step Dancer closer to the pace than he was on Wednesday, but he “got squeezed out there the first couple of jumps.”

“After that,” Davis said, “it was Plan B.”

The two-turn configuration of this race probably helped Step Dancer as did a little cut in the ground. Though the turf was labeled firm, it had rained some Tuesday night.

“He does like softer ground,” Davis said. “If it was a little firmer, I think [Dreamer’s Disease] would have gotten away from me and I probably wouldn’t have won. He’s getting better. He ran 22 and 2 that last quarter, and if he can do that he’ll win a lot of races.”

Tagg, who trains Step Dancer for Hayward and Donna Pressman and Diamond M Stable, said he would like to try Step Dancer against open company at some point, but is not sure if that would be the next race.