Dance Money Holds On as Majestic Harbor's First Winner

With a forward placement and a bit of racing luck, Barbara Eakin and Shelly Nance's Dance Money became the first winner for freshman stallion Majestic Harbor  Aug. 31 at Indiana Grand Race Course. She grabbed the lead early and held on to win by a neck in the 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight for state-bred fillies.

Ridden by Santo Sanjur, Dance Money set fractions of :22.51 and :46.62 through a half-mile and completed the race over a fast track in 1:07.13. It was her third start, all at Indiana Grand, for trainer Jonathan Nance. She was fifth on debut July 14 after being brushed at the start and racing in last. She returned to finish sixth Aug. 3 after vying off the pace inside early.

Dance Money was bred in Indiana by Anthony Wolfe and Julie Mudman and is the third winner from as many foals to race out of the Cactus Ridge mare Cactusa. Johnathon Wade Nance signed the ticket for the filly when she sold for $14,000 from Dawn Martin's consignment to the 2019 Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association Fall Mixed Sale.

Majestic Harbor began his stud career at Swifty Farms in Indiana and stood there for two seasons before moving to Harris Farms in California, where his stud fee this year was $2,500. Gallant Stable campaigned the son of Rockport Harbor through 42 starts from ages 2-8. He compiled a record of 10-8-7 and nearly $1.3 million in earnings. The biggest win for Majestic Harbor came in the 2014 Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G1). He won three other graded stakes and placed in seven more.

Bred in Kentucky by Liberation Farm and Brandywine Farm, Majestic Harbor is out of the French Deputy mare Champagne Royale and is a half brother to Arkansas Derby (G1) winner and sire Danza .