Odds-on favorite Soldier's Dancer scored a repeat victory in the $250,000 PTHA President's Cup on the turf at Philadelphia Park Sept. 19, drawing away in deep stretch to score by three lengths (VIDEO).
Owned by Herman Heinlein and trained by David Vivian, the 5-year-old son of Lost Soldier won for the first time since taking the Sunshine Millions Turf Stakes at Santa Anita in January.
Manoel Cruz was aboard for the easy win. Cruz also guided Soldier's Dancer to victory by two lengths in last year's President's Cup.
Facing five rivals, the 4-5 choice rated just off the rail as R J's Brigade showed the way in the nine-furlong event while crawling through fractions of :26.63, :53.46 and 1:18.10 over firm going. Soldier's Dancer ($3.60, $2.60, $2.20) angled out four wide leaving the final turn and took command inside the eighth pole en route to a convincing win in a time of 1:54.89.
Vanquisher ($11.80, $7.40), the longest shot on the board at 18-1 with Stewart Elliott aboard, ran second by 1 3/4 lengths. Yate's Black Cat ($4.80), ridden by David Cohen, grabbed the show spot.
Soldier's Dancer had been off for 4 1/2 months before returning to action Aug. 1 with a second-place finish in an allowance race at Calder. The victory, his 11th in 31 starts, was worth $150,000, boosting the millionaire's earnings to $1,413,780. Bred by Franks Farm in Florida from the Gate Dancer mare Heather's Dancer, the gray/roan gelding boasts 18 black-type finishes.
Soldier's Dancer scored a repeat victory in the PTHA President's Cup at Philadelphia Park.
Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO