Miss Dracarys broke alertly under Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano and controlled the pace throughout Sunday's Grade 2, $200,000 Dance Smartly Stakes, fighting off a brief challenge on the far turn and then holding off even-money favorite Moira to win by a length. Ready Lady nosed out Justify My Love for third, 3 1/4 lengths behind the runner-up, with Ephrata fifth, second betting choice Selimah sixth and Whimsical last of seven fillies and mares going a one-turn, 1 1/16 miles on a firm E.P. Taylor turf course.
The Dance Smartly was a prelude to Canada's biggest race, the King's Plate, highlight of a 13-race card at sold-out Woodbine in Toronto, Ontario.
Trained by Hall of Famer Neil Drysdale, Miss Dracarys was making her graded stakes debut in her 13th start. A 5-year-old mare by Malibu Moon out of Ask Me When, by Speightstown, Miss Dracarys was bred in Kentucky by Castleton Lyons and Kilboy Estate. She was purchased for Al Shira'aa Farms for $525,000 by Shawn Duggan, agent, at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from the Paramount Sales consignment.
This was Al Shira'aa Farms' second Dance Smartly win following Mutamakina's 2021 victory. The latter was trained by Christophe Clement. This year's Dance Smartly marks the sixth consecutive year the winner was a U.S.-based horse.
Castellano previously won the Dance Smartly aboard Holy Helena in 2019.
Miss Dracarys came into the race off back-to-back front-running victories at Aqueduct last fall and trained up to the Dance Smartly at Belmont Park. Breaking from the outside post, Castellano put her on the lead quickly, setting fractions of :24.07, :47.91, and 1:11.02 through the first six furlongs. Justify My Love moved along the inside to challenge the front-runner going into the far turn, with Salimah making a three-wide bid. But Castellano was able to edge clear again, then had enough left in the long stretch run to hold off Moira, the 2022 Queen's Plate winner and Canadian Horse of the Year. She hit the mile marker in 1:33.57 and completed the distance in 1:39.60.
Winning for the fifth time in 13 starts, Miss Dracarys paid $10.70 to win.
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