NEWS
Callwood Dancer holds on to take Nassau
Posted: Saturday, May 31, 2008 6:15 PM
CALLWOOD DANCER (checkered jockey silks) NIPS QUIET JUNGLE AT WOODBINE
Michael Burns photo
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
