by Myra Lewyn
Harlequin Ranches’ Callwood Dancer (Ire) sprinted to the early lead and never relinquished her advantage to gamely prevail by a nose in a rousing finish in the $321,075 Nassau Stakes (Can-G2) on Saturday at Woodbine.
With Eurico Da Silva at the reins, Callwood Dancer earned the first stakes victory of her career at odds of 9.05-to-1 by edging Quiet Jungle, who closed from fourth in the early stretch with a torrid rally under Robert Landry to just miss her first stakes win.
Trained by Roger Attfield, Callwood Dancer covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:40.46 on firm turf and defeated Canada’s two most recent Horses of the Year, 1.85-to-1 favorite Sealy Hill (2007) and Arravale (2006), who finished third and fourth, respectively, in the in the ten-hose field.
Callwood Dancer opened a one-length lead while well in hand through the opening quarter. The Niagara Queen quickly sprinted up and pressed only a head behind the Danehill Dancer filly through six furlongs in 1:11.90 but tired and gave way as Sealy Hill took aim and closed from three-deep midway on the turn.
Champion Sealy Hill was caught in traffic in upper stretch and Callwood Dancer shook clear, opening a one-length lead while Landry urged Quiet Jungle for her run. The Forest Wildcat filly willingly responded and closed with a rush but could not overhaul Callwood Dancer, who was fully extended for the victory.
"We've been trying to find our way with her a little bit,” Attfield said. “We gave her a lot of time over the winter. Looking at the race, there didn't seem to be much pace. I had a feeling that she'd probably find herself on the lead. That's exactly how it turned out.
“She's a brave filly. It's hard to go all the way on the front on this turf course.”
Sealy Hill was angled out in the stretch and bid gamely, finishing 1¼ lengths back in the third and one length in front of Arravale.
Callwood Dancer is unbeaten in two starts this season and entered off a half-length score in an allowance race at the Nassau distance on May 9 at the Toronto track. Her overall record improved to five wins in 14 starts and earnings of $386,857.
Bred by Quay Bloodstock, Callwood Dancer is out of the Rahy mare Ahdaab.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times Today editor