Cal-bred News

Dancing Edie Skips Sale, Not Cal Cup

ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 1, 2007) -- Dancing Edie is listed as Hip No. 156 in the catalog for Sunday’s Fasig-Tipton November Mixed Sale in Lexington, Ky. But the 5-year-old California-bred mare won’t go through the ring.

“We had hoped to get $1 million for her,” co-breeder Steve Warner said. “Instead we’ll try to get her to $1 million on the racetrack.”

The bay daughter of Moscow Ballet, out of the Slewpy mare Duchess of Ack, is the likely favorite in Saturday’s $150,000 Cal Cup Distaff, to be run at about 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course at Oak Tree.

“We didn’t think we could get her back to Kentucky in time for the sale there,” said Warner. “For her to sell as a broodmare prospect, they’d want to have the vets give her a good checkover. So we won’t sell her.”

Having won the 2006 John C. Mabee Handicap at Del Mar, Dancing Edie is the only Grade 1 winner in the Cal Cup Distaff field of 10. When 96 Cal-breds were entered Wednesday morning for the 10 stakes races on the 18th Cal Cup Day, she drew the No. 8 post and, for her eighth consecutive start, will have the riding services of Corey Nakatani.

In Dancing Edie’s most recent start, she captured the Grade 3 Ken Maddy Handicap on Sept. 26, opening day of the Oak Tree meet—her first time down the Santa Anita hillside course.
“We wanted to build up her confidence and give her a chance to win,” Warner recalled.

The Maddy resulted in the mare’s first triumph since the 2006 Mabee—and first in four starts this year. She now has four victories in 20 career trips to the post and has earned $782,535.

Warner would like to see her reach the seven-figure earnings plateau, a level so far attained by only seven Cal-bred mares.

“She could run in the (Grade 1) Matriarch (at Hollywood Park on Nov. 25) and then try the Sunshine Millions in January,” Warner said. “That all depends on what (majority owner) Paul Reddam decides.”

Trained by Craig Dollase, Dancing Edie derives her name from Warner’s mother-in-law Edie Fischer, who still cuts a rug with husband Jack. Both are 90 years old and live at Leisure World, a retirement community in Laguna Hills.

The Fischers were present for the Maddy and will attend the Cal Cup on Saturday.

Dancing Edie’s nine Cal Cup Distaff opponents, in post position order, with their jockeys, are:
Gentle Charmer, Kyle Kaenel; Chelsee’s Hope, Victor Espinoza; Lady Gamer, David Flores; Sophie’s Trophy, Garrett Gomez; Excessiveobsession, Aaron Gryder; Kalookan Dancer, Jose Valdivia; Spenditallbaby, Michael Baze; Cathrine’s Hope, Jon Court, and Double Major, Alex Solis.

Lady Gamer finished second to Dancing Edie, a half-length behind, in the Maddy. Gentle Charmer and Kalookan Dancer are coming off stakes victories—the former in the Autumn Leaves Handicap at Bay Meadows and Kalookan Dancer in the Pio Pico at Fairplex Park.
-- Larry Bortstein