Holiday Disguise Relishes Class Relief in Dancin Renee
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Susie Raisher
Holiday Disguise wins the Dancin Renee Stakes at Belmont Park
Lady Sheila Stable's Holiday Disguise capitalized on class relief June 15, tracking the early speed before a strong close to draw away to a 1 1/2-length victory in the the $100,000 Dancin Renee Stakes at Belmont Park.
Following back-to-back fifth-place finishes in the April 5 Distaff Handicap (G3) and the May 11 Vagrancy Handicap (G3), the Linda Rice-trained Harlan's Holiday mare was rated in third six-furlong test for New York-bred fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.
Pacesetter Leah's Dream, with Pauseforthecause in pursuit, led the five-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in :22.93 and the half in :46.29 on the fast main track, but out of the turn, it was 9-5 choice Holiday Disguise who closed with an outside rally. With jockey Jose Lezcano urging her on, the bay mare responded by overtaking Pauseforthecause and Leah's Dream, then outkicked a late-charging Jc's Shooting Star at the wire. The final time was 1:10.33.
"She was acting good in the paddock. Today, she did whatever I asked her to do," said Lezcano, who won twice on Saturday to extend his meet-leading total to 36. "She broke good and settled well. When I asked her to go at the quarter pole, she put her head down and really took off to win the race. It was a very good performance."
Rice saw Holiday Disguise post her first win since a 4 1/4-length score against state-breds in the Broadway Stakes in February at Aqueduct Racetrack. Returning $5.60 on a $2 win wager, the 5-year-old improved her record to 8-1-2 in 16 starts and increased her total bankroll to $623,875. She was bred by Dr. William B. Wilmot and Dr. Joan M. Taylor out of the Yes It's True mare Thin Disguise, and was a $220,000 purchase by Rice from Four Star Sales' consignment to The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
"Getting away from graded stakes company and getting away from Come Dancing, who was running triple digit Beyer Speed Figures, was definitely a help. Jose rode her beautifully and that's the way she wants to run," Rice said. "She wants to sit behind the speed and close in the middle of the track."
Rice said Holiday Disguise could next target the $200,000 Honorable Miss Stakes (G2) July 24 at Saratoga Race Course or the $100,000 Union Avenue for New York-breds Aug. 15 at the Spa.
Jc's Shooting Star, owned by Shooting Star Stable and trained by David Donk, finished in the money for the first time in six career stakes starts.
Holiday Disguise's stablemate and half sister Midnight Disguise, owned by William and Devin Wilmot and Joan Taylor, was a neck behind Jc's Shooting Star, earning an on-the-board finish for a second consecutive start after a runner-up effort in the May 27 Critical Eye Stakes at Belmont. Pauseforthecuase and Leah's Dream completed the order of finish. Out of Orbit was scratched.