Dance With Gable, a perfect three-for-three in his career on Santa Anita's hillside turf course, steps up in class for the $100,000 Daytona Stakes (gr. IIIT) Jan. 1.
The Daytona, one of two grass stakes on the program along with $150,000 Robert J. Frankel (gr. IIT) for older fillies and mares, attracted a field of seven. The Daytona is race 8 at 4:07 p.m. PST.
Trained and partially owned by Michael Machowsky along with Arbitrage Stables and partners, Dance With Gable is coming off a front-running 1 1/4-length victory in the Wild Harmony Stakes on the Hollywood Park turf Nov. 28. The California-bred Dance Floor gelding turns 7 on Jan. 1. His prior wins over the about 6 1/2-furlong hillside course include a triumph over state breds in the California Sky Stakes in October 2009.
Dance With Gable, who figures to be winging from the rail for jockey Joe Talamo, has won 11 of 26 lifetime starts with 19 in-the-money performances while earning $357,135. Machowsky claimed Dance With Gable for $40,000 at Del Mar in August of 2009.
Quick Enough, winner of Oak Tree’s six-furlong Morvich Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Hollywood Park Oct. 11, is the 123-pound high weight.
Patrick Valenzuela will ride the 7-year-old California-bred High Brite gelding. Quick Enough was claimed for $40,000 at Del Mar Aug. 5 by trainer Doug O’Neill on behalf of Michael Bello and partners. Quick Enough, who drew post 6, has earned $293,360 from a 7-4-3 record in 16 lifetime starts.
Glen Hill Farm's Dilemma, a willing runner-up in the Morvich for trainer Tom Proctor, and Joy Ride Racing's Afleet Ruler, who was second to Dance With Gable in the Wild Harmony as the favorite for trainer John Sadler, add depth to the field.
The Daytona is also the stakes and Southern California debut for Vinery Stable's Regally Ready, who wired a second-level allowance field at Churchill Downs by nearly eight lengths on a turf course listed as "good" Nov. 20. Steve Asmussen trains the soon-to-be 4-year-old More Than Ready gelding.
$100,000 Daytona Stakes (gr. IIIT, Race 8, 4:07 p.m.), 4 & Up, About 6 1/2 Furlongs (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Dance With Gable (CA), J Talamo, 118, M Machowsky
2. Afleet Ruler (FL), R Bejarano, 118, J W Sadler
3. Sirocco Strike (KY), V Espinoza, 118, B J Koriner
4. Quietly Mine (KY), M A Pedroza, 118, J Carava
5. Regally Ready (KY), J Rosario, 118, S M Asmussen
6. Quick Enough (CA), P A Valenzuela, 123, D F O'Neill
7. Dilemma (KY), G K Gomez, 118, T F Proctor
Dance With Gable is a perfect three-for-three in his career on Santa Anita's hillside turf course.
