Unbeaten Dancinginherdreams Dominates in Pocahontas

Oct 31, 2010 Gary Yunt

John Oxley’s heavily favored Dancinginherdreams remained perfect in two starts by racing to a 5 1/4-length victory over Eden Star in the 42nd running of the $165,450 Pocahontas (GII) for 2-year-old fillies on Sunday afternoon at Churchill Downs.

Ridden by Julien Leparoux, who won Pocahontas for a second time, Dancinginherdreams is trained by John Ward, who also won divisions of the race in 1977 and 1978. Ward and Oxley also teamed up to win the 1995 Kentucky Oaks (GI) with Gal In A Ruckus and the 2001 Kentucky Derby (GI) with Monarchos.

Leparoux was content to let Dancinginherdreams, the even-money favorite, race in midpack as Honey Chile under Michael Baze led the field of seven through fractions of :22.75 and :46.79 down the backstretch straightaway. Leaving the far turn, Dancinginherdreams had to wait behind Honey Chile, who was joined on the lead by Switching Gears and Gran Lioness.

At the head of the stretch, Dancinginherdreams slipped between Gran Lioness and Honey Chile and ducked down to the rail where she spurted clear past the three-sixteenths pole and cruised to the wire geared down by Leparoux.

Dancinginherdreams covered the mile on a fast main track in 1:38.59. The victory was worth $100,529 and increased the daughter of Tapit’s earnings to $124,529.

Dancinginherdreams returned $4, $2.80 and $2.40. Eden Star rallied for second under Kent Desormeaux and returned $9.20 and $5.40. Missyoulikecrazy, ridden by Corey Lanerie, finished another half-length back in third and paid $5.20 to show. It was another 3 ½ lengths back to Gran Lioness, who was followed in order by Days Like This, Switching Gears and Honey Chile.

Racing at the 21-day fall meet resumes Wednesday with a 10-race card that begins at 12:40 p.m. (ET).

POST-RACE QUOTES

Julien Leparoux (jockey, Dancinginherdreams, winner): “She ran good. I was in tight and she had a great pull; she does everything good. Today she broke a little bit better.”

John Ward (trainer, Dancinginherdreams, second): “That’s the way she trains in the morning, so to see it come back and do it in the afternoon is pretty good. I thought the racetrack was very difficult today, but she obviously overcomes what’s in front of her. I wouldn’t call it easy but she handled everything well. We will see her again in Florida and she needs to put some meat on her bones. But that’s what you’re looking for and I think she will run as far you want her to go.”

ERIC REED (trainer, Eden Star, runner-up): 'She ran a little better than I thought she would.  I really like her a lot.  She’s just ultra-game.  That other filly (winner Dancinginherdreams) can really run.”
Q: What will you do with Eden Star now?

“We’re going to break her maiden.  Then we’ll take her to Florida and bring her back here in the spring.”

KENT DESORMEAUX (jockey, Eden Star, runner-up): 'That was a great stretch drive for her – she was in the horse race.  The 3 (Dancinginherdreams) was long gone, but she was in the horse race for second place and she won.”

EDDIE KENNEALLY (trainer, Missyoulikecrazy, third): The winner is an exceptional filly and might be the leader of the division.  Being third in our first stake appearance – we’re happy with that.  We were third in a Grade II in the Pocahontas and that adds a little feather to our cap with this filly.”
Q: Will you look at the Golden Rod at the end of meet for her?
“We’ll look the Golden Rod.  We’ll definitely look at it.”