Dance to Bristol earned her seventh straight victory on Friday and first in a Grade 1, winning the $500,000 Ballerina S. by a head at Saratoga.
The winner’s purse of $300,000 put Speightstown at nearly $7.8 million in progeny earnings in 2013, tops among all North American sires. His 12 stakes winners have now won 21 black-type events, also best on the list.
With regular rider Xavier Perez in the irons, 4-year-old Dance to Bristol settled in fourth some three lengths behind Classic Point, who led the field through an opening quarter-mile in 23.03 seconds. Perez moved to the outside on the turn, putting his mount in striking position turning for home. With the favorite Book Review putting in a strong run down the stretch, Dance to Bristol struck hit the front with a furlong to go and would not let the runner-up by, winning by a head in 1:23.11 for seven furlongs.
The Ballerina win gave Dance to Bristol an all-fees-paid entry into the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita Park in November as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series.
“She’s something else; she’s amazing,” said Perez, who has been aboard throughout Dance to Bristol’s winning streak. “She’s the best horse I ever rode in my whole career. I think it’s going to be the one that’s going to take me to the Breeders’ Cup.”
Dance to Bristol began her streak in February, taking a pair of optional claimers at Laurel Park. After easily winning the Sugar Maple S. at Charles Town, she took the Skipat S. at Pimlico Race Course and then stepped up in class with her first graded stakes score in the Grade 3 Bed o’ Roses H. in June at Belmont Park.
Moving on to Saratoga, Dance to Bristol notched a neck triumph in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss H.in her most recent start prior to the Ballerina.
Now 10-7-0 from 18 career starts, Dance to Bristol boosted her lifetime earnings to $920,880.
“The filly, she’s done everything right, nothing wrong,” said Ollie Figgins, III, who trains Dance to Bristol in Maryland for Susan H. Wantz. “She’s a good horse, and I hope the world knows that.”
Figgins said he was not sure if Dance to Bristol would run again prior to the Breeders’ Cup.
