Woodbine Mohawk Park: Reid expecting a strong effort from Dancer Hall in Maple Leaf

You can’t win it if you’re not in it, so the saying goes. For three quarters of a mile in last week’s Maple Leaf Trot eliminations, trainer Paul Reid had that exact concern as he watched his Dancer Hall trail the field and risk a chance of not qualifying.

“I was nervous,” said Reid, “He wasn’t getting over the track very well.”

The stretch rolled around and reality set in as Dancer Hall trotted powerfully to the wire finishing second to $3 million winner Marion Marauder. The effort gained him entry into an elite class in Saturday’s C$651,000 Maple Leaf Trot.

“A win in this race would be the biggest for me as a trainer. I’ve been involved in some big ones as a trainer with Stanley Dancer and Ed Lohmeyer,” said Reid, referring to the class of horses he’s been fortunate to work around. “Having a top trotter is something special”

While there are two Hambletonian winners in the Maple Leaf Trot final, race 10 on the Woodbine Mohawk Park card on Saturday, Dancer Hall’s appearance in the event comes as a bit of a surprise. “I’ve never seen a horse mature as much from one year to the next,” said Reid of the rapid development of Dancer Hall, a 4-year-old son of Deweycheatumnhowe that didn’t exactly set the world afire with his sophomore season.

“We had issues with his soundness last year and finally got them straightened out late,” said Reid.

While there were some expectations going forward when staking time came around this season, Dancer Hall’s soundness again became an issue and discretion was used to spend less money, thus he was not initially nominated to this race.

“After he set the track record winning at Georgian Downs (Earl Rowe Memorial) we decided he deserved a shot,” said Reid of the $40,000 supplemental payment required to enter last week’s trials.

Dancer Hall has come a long way this season to prove he belongs with this caliber of trotter, finishing first and second in all 14 starts. That’s a solid record for any horse racing at the Preferred level on this circuit. Trainer Reid knows that Saturday’s field is the best Dancer Hall has ever been up against but he’s expecting a good effort.

“I think he can go with these and give a good account of himself,” said Reid. “I’d be surprised if he wasn’t in the money. I think he can win.”

Last week’s issues of gripping the track have not changed Reid’s plans how to have his horse shod for Saturday. “He wears flip-flops and last week I think the inside of the track was a bit loose. When he got to the outside he was grabbing it better. I’m going to keep the same shoes this week but bring a different set in case of rain,” Reid said.

Dancer Hall rallied sharply from last to second trotting home in 27 1/5 in his elimination race.

Dancer Hall sold for just $18,000 as a yearling and has earned 10 times that figure just this year. He’s out of a half-sister to the near $2 million winning Daylon Magician, a horse that finished fourth in the 2012 edition of the Maple Leaf.

Sylvain Filion will again drive Dancer Hall in the final. The pair drew post two and Reid thinks it’s a great spot considering the versatility his horse has shown.

There will be plenty of power right next door with elimination winners Marion Marauder (post 3) and Ariana G (post 4) and Crawford Farms winner Will Take Charge (post 5) in the lineup.

This year’s Maple Leaf has plenty of depth including last year’s Horse of the Year and defending Maple Leaf champion Hannelore Hanover (post 7) among the 10 starters. Hannelore Hanover had captured her first six starts this year but enters the Maple Leaf final off a string of three third-place finishes. Yannick Gingras will guide her for trainer Ron Burke.

The star-studded field is rounded out by Crazy Wow (post 1), Warrawee Roo (post 6), Emoticon Hanover, one of three mares in the race (post 8), Guardian Angel As (post 9) and 2014 Hambletonian champion Pinkman (post 10).