Dancing Kiki Wires Field in Saratoga Dew

Trainer Mike Maker continued his stellar start to the summer meet, racking up his second consecutive win on the card when Michael Dubb's Dancing Kiki  set the pace and then drew away for a 4 1/2-length victory in the Aug. 12 $100,000 Saratoga Dew Handicap for New York-bred fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at Saratoga Race Course.

The 17th running of the Saratoga Dew—contested at 1 1/8 miles on the Spa main track—saw Maker extend his meet-leading win total to 19 as Dancing Kiki broke sharp from the inside post under jockey Jose Ortiz, leading the five-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in :23.73 and the half in :48.48.

Simply Ravishing , the Kenny McPeek-trained 3-2 slight second favorite under Luis Saez, tracked in second position and made a bid from the outside in the final turn along with Maiden Beauty . But Ortiz kept Dancing Kiki to the inside, where the Blame   filly deftly handled the final turn and then finished strongly to the wire, surging home over Maiden Beauty. The 4-year-old bay completed the nine panels in 1:51.71 on a fast track.

"I knew I had speed; the only question was if she would handle the mile-and-an-eighth, and she did it nicely," Ortiz said. "She had plenty left late in the last eighth of a mile; she was still running pretty decently."

Claimed for $35,000 out of a 5 1/4-length triumph going seven furlongs at the Spa July 22, Dancing Kiki handled the stretch out to nine furlongs with aplomb. Three of her four career wins in 23 starts have come in her last six races.

"She was doing well," Maker said. "I claimed her on Michael Dubb's recommendation and I ran her here on Michael Dubb's recommendation. I wasn't really concerned (about stretching out). Jose seemed to make an easy lead, so that added to the confidence."

"When I handicapped the race, I thought McPeek's horse would be aggressive going for the lead," Dubb said. "When I didn't see McPeek's horse on the lead, I felt pretty comfortable. I thought the fractions were reasonable."

Sent off at odds of 7-1, Dancing Kiki returned $16 on a $2 win wager. Bred in the Empire State by Dutchess Views Farm and SGO Thoroughbred, Dancing Kiki improved her career earnings to $256,230.

"It was a little bit the breeding, by Blame," Dubb said on the decision to claim Dancing Kiki. "The horse had been running at various distances and I have had luck with Mike stretching horses out. I think he's known, whether it's turf or dirt, for stretching horses out. It seemed like a horse you could stretch out."

The runner-up Maiden Beauty was also claimed last out by trainer Robert Falcone Jr. for owner John Grossi's Racing Corp. Falcone grabbed the daughter of Revolutionary  for $45,000 following her second-place finish in June 17 allowance optional claiming race for state-breds at Belmont Park.

"I thought the break was the key," said Maiden Beauty jockey Joel Rosario. "She had to sit behind the front two a little bit, but she ran well. She was just second-best today. She seemed like she handled it great. We tried to make a move, we just couldn't catch the winner."   

Mrs. Orb ,Espresso Shot , and Simply Ravishing completed the order of finish. Simply Ravishing, a grade 1 winner last year as a juvenile, was eased late but walked off following the race.

Video: Saratoga Dew H. (BT)