Come Dancing Set to Return at Belmont

Come Dancing, 12th in the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park in her 6-year-old debut April 18, is being given a short freshening at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland and will soon head to Belmont Park, trainer Carlos Martin said.

One of the top older mares in the northeast last year, the daughter of Malibu Moon  won four stakes in 2019, including the Ketel One Ballerina Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. She also ran second behind Midnight Bisou in the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) at Belmont. She finished her 5-year-old season with a sixth as the second favorite in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita Park.

Martin said Come Dancing also went to Fair Hill in 2019 after her runner-up finish in the Ogden Phipps.

"She can enjoy a little turn out time, let her get over that last race," Martin said May 18, referring to the Apple Blossom. "That was a tough spot, obviously, after a long layoff—going two turns in that type of race—and now we have racing in New York. Hopefully, she'll be back to Belmont in a week and we'll make some plans."

Saddled by Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas for her one start at Oaklawn, Come Dancing chased a fast pace in the Apple Blossom before yielding. She was beaten 13 1/2 lengths by Ce Ce in the 1 1/16-mile race, her first start around two turns.

She is a winner of eight of 15 starts and over $1 million for Marc Holliday's Blue Devil Racing Stable, winning the Ruffian Stakes (G2) and Gallant Bloom Handicap (G2) over the Belmont main track last year.

The one-mile Ruffian, a $150,000 race on July 11, is part of the amended Belmont Park Stakes schedule that was released by the New York Racing Association May 19. Other dirt races for older fillies and mares include the June 13 Ogden Phipps and the June 27 Vagrancy Handicap (G3).