Dancer’ Looks to Make Her ‘Point’

Sagamore Farm’s Daring Dancer (Empire Maker) seeks her fifth win in just six starts in today’s GII Sands Point S. going 1 1/8 miles over Belmont’s inner turf course. The bay captured her sophomore debut in Keeneland’s GIII Appalachian S. Apr. 17 and was fifth as the favorite after a wide trip in the Wonder Again S. Taking some time to regroup, the Graham Motion pupil came charging late to secure a narrow victory over A Little Bit Sassy (More Than Ready) in Saratoga’s GII Lake George S. last time July 23. Firing a six-panel bullet over the Fair Hill synthetic in 1:15 Sept. 6, the morning-line favorite gains the services of Hall of Famer John Velazquez for this one. “We thought about the [GII] Lake Placid [S. Aug. 16 at Saratoga], but I decided it was back too quick,” said Motion. “This was the next logical spot. Our main concern is that her only loss came at Belmont, but that was over [good] turf.” 

Chad Brown sends out a pair of runner in here, lead by Martin Schwartz import Xcellence (Fr) (Champs Elysees {GB}). Winner of the G3 Prix Imprudence S., the bay was fourth in her last start for previous trainer Francois Doumen in the GI Belmont Oaks July 5. Stablemate Ball Dancing (Exchange Rate) makes her first American start for the Brown barn here. Previously trained by Pia Brandt, the WS Farish and Steve Mooney colorbearer captured two wins in her mother country and was fifth last time in Chantilly’s G1 Prix de Diane Longines S. June 15. 

Stonetower Stable’s Sea Queen (Lemon Drop Kid) is one of two runners from the Christophe Clement stable. Displaying an affinity for this course, the dark bay upset the Wonder Again at odds of 18-1 and was forced to settle for second after setting the pace in the Belmont Oaks. Shipped to the West Coast for her last start, Sea Queen finished fourth as the favorite in the 1 1/8-mile GI Del Mar Oaks Aug. 16. “Sea Queen had a little bit of a disappointment in the Del Mar Oaks,” said Christophe Lorieul, assistant to Clement. “She was beaten a neck and a nose for second. She ran good, but she was used a bit too early in the race. She comes back in good form and had a very good work on the turf [four furlongs on the turf in 49.21 seconds Tuesday], and we’re back at Belmont Park. We’ll try again.” Clement’s other entry, Highland Yard LLC’s lightly raced Walk Close (Tapit), also loves the Belmont turf course. A debut winner here last September, the bay captured an allowance here May 18 and scored again over this course in the Wild Applause S. June 21. Bumped hard at the break, she finished fourth to Miss Frost (Curlin)–who went on to capture the Riskaverse S.–last time in Saratoga’s one-mile Tenski S. Aug. 11. “She’s 3-for-3 at Belmont,” noted Lorieul. “I think she might have had a bit too much to do [in the Tenski], but she’s training well back at Belmont. She was shuffled back, and I’m not sure if Saratoga is one of her better tracks. She doesn’t have a great turn of foot, but she’s fast when she gets going, and I think the Belmont stretch will help her.”