Dance Smartly Stakes
| Class | Grade II |
|---|---|
| Location | Woodbine Racetrack Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Inaugurated | 1986 (as Woodbine Handicap) |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website | Woodbine Racetrack |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1+1⁄16 miles (8.5 furlongs) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds & Up |
| Weight | Weight for Age with allowances |
| Purse | $200,000 (2023) |
The Dance Smartly Stakes is a thoroughbred horse race run annually in August at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A Grade II stakes race raced on turf, it is open to fillies and mares three years of age and older and run at 1+1⁄16 miles. Originally known as the Woodbine Handicap, the race was renamed in 1998 for Dance Smartly, the second filly to win the Canadian Triple Crown who went undefeated during the 1991 racing season and was inducted into both the Canadian and United States Racing Hall of Fames.[1]
Inaugurated in 1986, it was raced on dirt through 1989 at a distance of 1+1⁄8 miles. In 1990 it was switched over to the turf course and raced that year at 1+1⁄16 miles after which it remained on the turf but at its original 1+1⁄8 miles. It was lengthened to 1+1⁄4 miles in 2017.[2] In 2022 the race returned to the current distance of 1+1⁄16 miles.
Records
Time record on turf:
- 1+1⁄16 miles (current distance): 1:39.46 – Wakanaka (2022)
- 1+1⁄8 miles: 1:44.25 – Overheard (2014)
- 1+1⁄4 miles: 1:59.51 – Santa Monica (2018)
Most wins:
- 2 – Radiant Ring (1991, 1992)
Most wins by an owner:
- 3 – Sam-Son Farm (1991, 1992, 1998)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 4 – Patrick Husbands (1999, 2003, 2010, 2016)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 4 – Roger Attfield (1987, 2002, 2005, 2010)
Winners
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Miss Dracarys | 5 | Javier Castellano | Neil D. Drysdale | Al Shira'aa Farms | 1:39.60 |
| 2022 | Wakanaka | 4 | Rafael Manuel Hernandez | William I. Mott | Team Valor International & Gary Barber | 1:39.46 |
| 2021 | Mutamakina | 5 | Dylan Davis | Christophe Clement | Al Shira'aa Farms | 2:01.26 |
| 2020 | Theodora B. | 5 | Justin Stein | Michael Dickinson | Augustin Stable | 2:02.35 |
| 2019 | Holy Helena | 5 | Javier Castellano | James Jerkens | Stronach Stables | 2:02.08 |
| 2018 | Santa Monica | 5 | José Ortiz | Chad C. Brown | Magnier/Madaket Stables/Pearson | 1:59.51 |
| 2017[3] | Starship Jubilee (DH) Rainha Da Bateria(DH) | 4 5 | Eurico Rosa Da Silva Javier Castellano | Kevin Attard Chad C. Brown | Kevin Attard, Soli Mehta Leal Stable | 2:01.91 |
| 2016 | Lexie Lou | 5 | Patrick Husbands | Mark E. Casse | Gary Barber | 1:44.89 |
| 2015 | Strut the Course | 5 | Luis Contreras | Barbara J. Minshall | John Unger | 1:45.41 |
| 2014 | Overheard | 4 | Eurico Rosa Da Silva | Malcolm Pierce | Pin Oak Stable | 1:44.25 |
| 2013 | Solid Appeal | 4 | Jesse M. Campbell | Reade Baker | Jim & Susan Hill | 1:46.19 |
| 2012 | Marketing Mix | 4 | Julien Leparoux | Thomas F. Proctor | Glen Hill Farm | 1:48.02 |
| 2011 | Never Retreat | 6 | Shaun Bridgmohan | Chris Block | Team Block | 1:46.48 |
| 2010 | Mekong Melody | 5 | Patrick Husbands | Roger L. Attfield | David C. Egan | 1:46.09 |
| 2009 | Points of Grace | 4 | Luis Contreras | Malcolm Pierce | Live Oak Racing | 1:45.51 |
| 2008 | The Niagara Queen | 5 | Jim McAleney | Steve Asmussen | The Elite Racing Company | 1:50.01 |
| 2007 | Masseuse | 5 | Edgar Prado | James J. Toner | H.R.C. Elser et al. | 1:45.55 |
| 2006 | Ambitious Cat | 5 | Todd Kabel | Eric Coatrieux | Chiefswood Stable | 1:49.81 |
| 2005 | Noble Stella | 4 | Emile Ramsammy | Roger Attfield | Gary A. Tanaka | 1:49.95 |
| 2004 | Mona Rose | 4 | E. R. Da Silva | R. Earl Barnett | Paul & Frank O'Brien | 1:48.18 |
| 2003 | Madeira Mist | 4 | Patrick Husbands | Christophe Clement | Skymarc Farm | 1:48.05 |
| 2002 | Sweetest Thing | 4 | Jim McAleney | Roger Attfield | Lael Stables | 1:45.72 |
| 2001 | Alexis | 5 | Jono Jones | Cliff Hopmans Jr. | D. Morgan Firestone | 1:47.81 |
| 2000 | Except For Wanda | 5 | Jim McAleney | Bruce R. Smither | George W. Richter | 1:46.61 |
| 1999 | Ascot Yael | 5 | Patrick Husbands | John A. Ross | R.M.C. Stable | 1:47.25 |
| 1998 | Colorful Vices | 5 | Todd Kabel | Mark Frostad | Sam-Son Farm | 1:46.20 |
| 1997 | Woolloomooloo | 5 | Todd Kabel | David R. Bell | Richard & Jo Ellen Shaw | 1:46.80 |
| 1996 | Bold Ruritana | 6 | Robert Landry | Barbara Minshall | Minshall Farms | 1:46.60 |
| 1995 | Memories | 4 | Shane Sellers | Burke Kessinger Jr. | Haynes/New Phoenix Stable | 1:47.20 |
| 1994 | Silky Feather | 4 | Steven Bahen | Richard Violette Jr. | Stanton P. Powell | 1:50.00 |
| 1993 | Myrtle Irene | 4 | Sandy Hawley | David C. Brown | Don & Jane Anne McClelland | 1:46.40 |
| 1992 | Radiant Ring | 4 | Jack Lauzon | James E. Day | Sam-Son Farm | 1:46.40 |
| 1991 | Radiant Ring | 3 | Pat Day | James E. Day | Sam-Son Farm | 1:46.00 |
| 1990 | Fieldy | 7 | Eddie Maple | Thomas J. Skiffington Jr. | Fernwood Stable | 1:44.80 |
| 1989 | Charming Sassafras | 4 | Ray Sabourin | John A. Ross | Aubrey W. Minshall | 1:52.00 |
| 1988 | Grecian Flight | 4 | Craig Perret | Joseph H. Pierce Jr. | Henry C. B. Lindh | 1:50.60 |
| 1987 | Triple Wow | 4 | Don Seymour | Roger Attfield | Kinghaven Farms | 1:54.00 |
| 1986 | Bessarabian | 4 | Sandy Hawley | Michael J. Doyle | Eaton Hall Farm | 1:52.00 |
*In 1986, Triple Wow finished first but was disqualified and placed last following a positive test for a banned medication.
See also
References
- ^ Clothier, Gary (15 August 2010). "Ask Mr. Know-It-All Beloved crooner is remembered". berkshireeagle.com. United Features Syndicate. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
A Canadian-born thoroughbred champion racehorse, Dance Smartly (1988-2007) won the Canadian Triple Crown in 1991 and is considered one of Canada's greatest racing fillies. The race was inaugurated in 1986 as the Woodbine Handicap; in1998, it was renamed to honor the filly.
- ^ Equibase.com. "Dance Smartly Stakes profile". www.equibase.com. Archived from the original on 2013-07-12. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
- ^ "Starship Jubilee, Rainha Da Bateria Win Dance Smartly". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
