NEWS
The Niagara Queen earns first graded stakes win in Dance Smartly
Posted: Saturday, July 12, 2008 6:00 PM
THE NIAGARA QUEEN
Michael Burns photo
by Myra Lewyn
A confident jockey and a slow pace were key factors in the $333,205 Dance Smartly Stakes (Can-G2) for Elite Racing Co.’s The Niagara Queen, who halted a three-race winless stretch and earned her first graded stakes win on Saturday in the 1 1/8-mile turf race at Woodbine.
Trained by Steve Asmussen, the five-year-old Langfuhr mare scored her first win in three starts this season and returned to the winner’s circle for the first time since capturing the Flaming Page Stakes on September 23 at Woodbine.
With James McAleney at the reins, The Niagara Queen pressed pacesetter Callwood Dancer through the opening quarter in a reserved :25.95, then passed that foe midway on the backstretch before opening a comfortable 2 1/2-length lead through six furlongs in 1:14.08 and looked well en route to victory.
Sprung closed three wide into the stretch and took aim on The Niagara Queen, then collared her in deep stretch, but The Niagara Queen gamely dug in and shook clear to win by 1 1/2 lengths while covering the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.01 on turf rated as good.
Sprung held for second, a neck in front of 1.45-to-1 favorite Quiet Jungle.
McAleney said he was confident The Niagara Queen would win after getting away with slow fractions.
"Around the bottom of the turn, I had a ton of horse. I thought it was going to take a real horse to outsprint us," McAleney said. "[Assistant trainer] Steve [Flint] had told me that this filly was doing better than ever. I knew I could ride her with a ton of confidence."
Niagara Queen finished fourth in the E. P. Taylor Stakes (Can-G1) on October 21 and did not start for nearly seven months before opening 2008 with a third to Callwood Dancer (Ire) in an allowance race on May 9 at Woodbine.
Flint said The Niagara Queen, who finished fifth to Callwood Dancer in the Nassau Stakes (Can-G2) on May 31 in her previous start, entered the Dance Smartly in peak condition.
"It was her third start after a layoff. That's usually a horse's best race," said Flint. "She had worked exceptionally well."
The Niagara Queen, who is out of the Lord At War (Arg) mare Inspirational, improved her record to five wins in 24 career starts and boosted her earnings to $576,696.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times Today editor
