Dance to Bristol Turns in Final BC Breeze
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Susan Wantz's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) contender Dance to Bristol put in her final pre-race work at the Bowie Training Center Oct. 25, going five furlongs in a bullet :58 3/5.
Regular rider Xavier Perez was aboard for the move eight days before the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint at Santa Anita Park. Trainer Ollie Figgins III said the solid breeze was planned to tighten the screws en route to the seven-furlong event.
"That is what we needed today," Figgins said. "I generally don't like to let her rock that much but I usually work her seven days out. Today we are eight so I wanted a little more."
Dance to Bristol has won seven of her nine starts this year, including three graded stakes. The daughter of Speightstown began her 4-year old campaign with a second-place finish in the What A Summer Stakes at Laurel Park in January, then reeled off seven straight victories from February through August, including a win in the Skipat Stakes at Pimlico on Preakness weekend and three graded races in New York: the Bed o' Roses (gr. III), Honorable Miss (gr. II) and Ballerina (gr. I).
Her streak came to an end in the Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II) Sept. 21 at Belmont Park when she was second to Cluster of Stars in her most recent start.
"To have the opportunity to ride a horse of this caliber is a dream come true," Perez said. "We are going to the Super Bowl of racing, going against the best of the best. It is an unbelievable feeling to know that I am going into the race with a horse that has a shot to win the race."
The Filly & Mare Sprint is also expected to feature defending champion Groupie Doll and Book Review. The latter finished behind Dance to Bristol in the Ballerina at Saratoga Race Course.
Figgins indicated his star will ship to Southern California the morning of Oct. 26. A victory in the Breeders' Cup would likely mean an Eclipse Award for Dance to Bristol in the filly and mare sprint division.
"We have a very live shot and I always feel that with her," added Figgins. "Every time she goes to the gate I feel like she is going to be the winner because she gives it her all. It is a great thrill to have a nice horse with the talent to go to New York and win graded races. The Bed o' Roses performance was the race where I knew she was a horse of that caliber. It has been a lot of fun."
Dance To Bristol has 10 wins and eight seconds in 19 career starts, with earnings of $980,880.