Theodora B. Makes the Grade in Dance Smartly
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Photo: Michael Burns
Theodora B. wins the Dance Smartly Stakes at Woodbine
Augustin Stable's homebred Theodora B. earned her first graded stakes victory for trainer Michael Dickinson Aug. 15 in the CA$175,700 (US$132,434) Dance Smartly Stakes (G2T) at Woodbine, leading from start to finish under jockey Justin Stein.
Leaving post 2 in the 1 1/4-mile turf event for fillies and mares, Theodora B. took command to lead five rivals through a pedestrian :26.89 opening quarter. The 5-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper held a 1 1/2-length advantage over Elizabeth Way, who was a half-length in front of Romantic Pursuit.
Still comfortably in front after a half-mile in :51.80, Theodora B. continued to call the shots as the field geared up for the turn for home. Slight favorite Etoile found a wide seam along the rail and launched an inside bid through the long stretch drive to the wire, but 11-1 Theodora B. had more to give and held safe by three-quarters of a length at the wire.
Etoile settled for second, and Elizabeth Way was 1 1/4 lengths back in third.
"I knew another horse would have to really be running to get by her," Stein said. "She was giving me everything she had, and I had a lot of horse left in the tank. She showed her pump the whole way down the stretch."
The final time was 2:02.35 on a course rated firm.
"I galloped her yesterday and she's a real efficient mover—big, long stride," Stein said. "We were covering a lot of ground, but she wasn't doing much in the gallop, so I knew what I had today. I talked to the trainer on the way in, and unfortunately our plans at the beginning of the race were mixed up. She wanted to leave and I had to go with it, but she just kept running … a lot of power."
Theodora B. came off a sixth in the July 18 Trillium Stakes (G3) at Woodbine and improved her record to 5-5-3 from 17 starts. She returned $24.10 on a $2 win ticket. She was bred in Kentucky out of the Dynaformer mare Dyna Waltz and is the first graded winner out of the mare. Dyna Waltz's most recent foal was a 2019 full sister to Theodora B.