BY BROCK SHERIDAN

MARCH 1, 1998—Sent to the post at odds of 33-1, Florida-bred Dance for Thee and jockey Joe Bravo overcame trouble in the far turn to upset the Grade 2 Rampart at Gulfstream Park, taking the winner’s share of the $200,000 purse. It was the first graded stakes victory for the 4-year-old Dance for Thee, who was trained by Leo Azpurua Jr. for owner John Franks.

The 1998 Rampart featured a star-studded cast of six fillies and mares including 4-5 favorite Glitter Woman and Escena, the second choice in the wagering at 8-5.

Florida-bred Glitter Woman, a multiple graded stakes winner of the 1997 Forward Gal (G3), Davona Dale (G3), Bonnie Miss (G3) and Ashland (G1) was coming out of a runner-up finish to Florida-bred U Can Do It in the Shirley Jones (G3) at Gulfstream a month earlier.

Allen Paulson’s Escena had just finished second to Florida-bred Radiant Megan in the Sabin Handicap (G3) at Gulfstream in her previous start.

In the mile-and-a-sixteenth Rampart, Glitter Woman and jockey Mike Smith sprinted to a length-and-a-half lead around the clubhouse turn as Bravo had Dance for Thee keeping pace with Escena and Jerry Bailey to their outside in second. Glitter Woman was allowed to gallop through pedestrian fractions of :24.35 and :47.97 before Bailey sent Escena after Glitter Woman around the far turn, boxing in Dance for Thee on the rail.

Glitter Woman and Escena were heads apart in the run for home before Dance for Thee surged past the leaders in the deep stretch to win by two lengths in 1:44.73 on the fast track. Escena was second, finishing a half-length ahead of Glitter Woman in third. One Rich Lady, Relic Rhythm and Radiant Megan completed the order of finish.

Dance for Thee paid $68.60 to win.

 

The victory prompted Dance for Thee to finish the year strong as she won the $40,000 Majorette at Louisiana Downs in her next start then was fifth in the Three Chimneys Spinster (G1) won by Banshee Breeze at Keeneland in October. Dance for Thee won two of her last three races, taking an allowance at Churchill Downs in November and winning the $50,000 Truly Bound Handicap (Listed) carrying the top weight of 119 pounds at Fair Grounds on Dec. 26.

Dance for Thee counted three other stakes victories in her career including the $52,650 Sugar’s Image earlier in 1998 at Gulfstream Park. As a 2-year-old when racing for owner Afredo Agusti, she won two divisions of the 1996 Florida Stallion Stakes at Calder in 1996. After finishing fourth as the 9-5 favorite in the $100,000 Desert Vixen won by 41-1 longshot Devilish Brunette, Dance for Thee won the $125,000 Susan’s Girl by four lengths and the $360,000 My Dear Girl by a length-and-a-half.

Dance for Thee retired with consistent record of 10 wins with a second and a third in 21 career starts while banking $614,704. Bred in Florida by William F. Murphy and Annabel Murphy, Dance for Thee was by Sword Dancer (Ire) out of Tea for Thee, by Taylor’s Falls.

Dance for Thee joined Franks’ broodmare band in retirement and he bred her four times, producing two live foals. She had winner Rockaspell with Royal Anthem and graded stakes-producer Tea Dancer, by Afternoon Deelites. Tea Dancer is the dam of Florida-bred Girther, by Brody’s Cause, who was second to Weston in the 2020 Best Pal (G2) at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.

After Franks died on Dec. 31, 2003, Alta Franks sold Dance for Thee at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale in February of 2004 as part of a reorganization of her husband’s holdings according to a story in BloodHorse.com. Dance for Thee was purchased for $100,000 by Santa Escolastica and subsequently bred to Petionville before being exported to Brazil. The resulting foal was Kinien (Brz), who was Grade 3-placed in Brazil and she later produced Brazilian Grade 2-winner Instant Dance (Brz), by Pioneering.

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