BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Coming off a disappointing effort in the $1.5 million Dueling Grounds Oaks at Kentucky Downs in her last race, Florida-bred Dancing N Dixie returns to a more favorable Keeneland Race Course for the Grade 2 Bank of America Valley View Friday. An overflow field of 12 fillies and mares, plus four on the also-eligible list, have entered the $350,000 Valley View set for one mile on the turf.
Trainer Mark Casse is hoping Dancing N Dixie will again relish the mile distance on the Keeneland grass course where in April, she rallied from last of 12 to finish third, less than a length shy of winner Buchu in the Grade 2 Appalachian presented by the Japan Racing Association.
Dancing N Dixie then finished third again in the Grade 2 Edgewood presented by TwinSpires going a mile-and-a-sixteenth at Churchill Downs on May 3 before winning the $233,000 Tepin going a mile on the Churchill Downs turf on June 29. She then finished third in the Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational won by Cinderalla’s Dream on Aug. 2 at Saratoga Race Course just prior to the Dueling Grounds Oaks.
Dancing N Dixie has earned $383,550 for owners by Gary Barber, Jacquline E. Ventura’s Rocky Top Stable and Chris Moore’s LEMB Stables from three wins and four thirds in 12 career starts. She was a $35,000 purchase by White Type Stables at the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales June Sale where she was consigned by Blue River Bloodstock.
By Neolithic, who stands at Pleasant Acres Stallions, out of Foolhearted Woman, by Uncaptured, Dancing N Dixie was bred in Florida by the late Freddie Hyatt.
Dancing N Dixie is 12-1 on the morning line and will break from post nine with jockey John Velasquez.
Trainer Christophe Clement will saddle Les Reys (Fr), last out winner of the $150,000 Winter Memories going a mile on the inner turf at Aqueduct on Sept. 13. That was the third consecutive stakes victory for Les Reys, who won the US$59,100 Prix du Bel Air Handicap in May and the US$59,400 Prix Volterra in June, both at Longchamp in her native France.
Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Peter Leidel and Winters Equine LLC, Les Reys has won half of her eight career starts with one second while earning $166,120.
Set as the 5-2 morning line favorite, Les Reys is by Penny’s Picnic (Ire) out of Allegria (Fr), by Verglas (Ire) and will be ridden from post four by Flavien Prat.
Others set for the Valley View are Opera Mundi (Ire) and jockey Tyler Gaffalione, Poolside With Slim (Ire) with rider Frankie Dettori, Manny Franco rides Memorialize, Kalispera (Ire) will have Cristian Torres up, Sakura Blossom has Florent Geroux taking the call, Corey Lanerie will ride Pharoah’s Wine, Buttercream Babe will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Uphill Native will have Jose Ortiz in the irons, Nice as Pie with jockey Adam Beschizza and Luis Saez rides Simply in Front. Maxisuperfly, Whiskey Decision, Strike When Ready and Kehoe Beach are on the also-eligible list.
A previous version of this story listed the owner of Rocky Top Stable as Tom Ventura when in fact it is Jacquline E. Ventura. We regret the error.
