BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Fresh off a dramatic neck victory in the $233,000 Tepin at Churchill Downs, Florida-bred Dancing N Dixie takes her exciting come-from-behind style to Saratoga Race Course for Friday’s Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational. Dancing N Dixie is 8-1 on the morning line as one of seven 3-year-old fillies entered for the $400,000 Oaks scheduled for a mile-and-three-sixteenth on the grass.
Trainer Mark Casse has had Dancing N Dixie coming from far back in each of her five starts this year with good results. While the Tepin was her first win of the year, she just missed earlier when finishing third in three graded stakes.
She finished in the show spot in the Grade 3 Florida Oaks won by Waskesiu going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the grass at Tampa Bay Downs on March 9 then finished third behind winner Buchu in the Grade 2 Appalachian on the turf at Keeneland on April 6. She was also third in the Grade 2 Edgewood won by Dynamic Princess over a yielding turf at Churchill Downs on May 3.
Dancing N Dixie races for Gary Barber, Rocky Top Stables and LEMB Stables and has won three of 10 career starts with three thirds while banking $320,550. She is by Pleasant Acres Stallion’s Neolithic out of Foolhearted Woman, by Uncaptured and was bred in Florida by the late Freddie Hyatt.
She is a $35,000 graduate of the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales June Sale where White Type Stables selected her out of the Blue River Bloodstock consignment.
Jose Ortiz, who has been aboard Dancing N Dixie for each of her last three races, gets the return mount from post two.
Cinderella’s Dream (GB), who invaded from Great Britian in July to win the Grade 1 Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational at a mile-and-three-sixteenths on the Aqueduct turf, returns as the 6-5 favorite in the Saratoga Oaks.
Trained by Charles Appleby, Cinderella’s Dream won her first four career starts including the US$217,800 Jumeirah 1000 Guineas Sponsored by Emirates Skycargo at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on March 2. She suffered her only career loss when seventh in the Group 1 Qipco 1000 Guineas won by Elmalka (GB) at Newmarket in Great Britian on May 5.
Cinderella’s Dream is a homebred for Godolphin and has earned $497,956 in her six career starts. She is by Shamardal out of Espadrille (GB), by Dubawi (Ire) and jockey William Buick returns from his base in Great Britian to ride from the inside post one.
Belmont Oaks runner-up Segesta returns Friday for another chance at Cinderella’s Dream.
The Chad Brown-trained daughter of Ghostzapper led throughout the early stages of the Belmont Oaks before Cinderella’s Dream rallied from six lengths back to put a nose in front at the wire.
Segesta went into the Belmont Oaks with a two-race win streak after taking the Grade 2 Wonder Again going a mile-and-an-eighth on the turf during the Belmont at Big A meet on May 27. She won a maiden special weight on the Keeneland turf going a mile on April 21 in her third career start.
Segesta has earned $273,675 in her two wins and two second in five starts. She is 7-2 on the morning line and Irad Ortiz Jr. will be aboard from post six.
Completing the field are Kathynmarissa and jockey Frankie Dettori, Macanga will be ridden by John Velazquez, Ryan Moore has the assignment on Greenfinch and Movin’ On Up will have Tyler Gaffalione in the saddle.
