Woodbine: Dance Again rallies to head Sam-Son Farm 1-2 in Carotene Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Sam-Son Farm homebreds ran one-two Saturday at Woodbine in the $150,000 Carotene Stakes, in which second choice Dance Again prevailed over the 7-10 favorite, Smartyfly.

Dance Again, ridden by Patrick Husbands, commenced a powerful wide rally from well back at the head of the stretch to win the nine-furlong turf route by 1 3/4 lengths, in 1:49.90. Smartyfly wound up a half-length ahead of 20-1 outsider Primordia, who outran Blessed One for third in the seven-horse field of Ontario-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Dance Again ($6.90) collected $90,000 in her first stakes victory. Malcolm Pierce trains the top two finishers.

“I kinda had mixed feelings on which one should win, but they both deserved a chance in here,” Pierce said. “Probably no horse has been training any better in the barn than Dance Again. Two weeks ago, she gave Up With the Birds all he wanted in a workout. That says a lot. I thought she came into the race in good order.”