Ballroom Deputy Dances to Maple Leaf Win

(from Woodbine report)
Ballroom Deputy, a chestnut daughter of Silver Deputy, captured the $251,600 Maple Leaf Stakes (Can-III) under Dino Luciani Saturday at Woodbine.

Ballroom Deputy, owned by Padua Stables and trained by Josie Carroll, was a one-length winner over Quick Temper and Silver Impulse, who was another neck back in third.

Luciani and the 4-year-old filly, who finished third in the Lighthouse Stakes at Monmouth Sept. 10, managed to hold off their rivals while crossing the wire in the 1 1/4-mile event 2:05.77 over a track listed as "fast."

Luciani sat his Kentucky-bred off fractions of :24.03, :48.16 and 1:13.19 set by Schooner Bay. In deep stretch, Ballroom Deputy seized the lead as the onrushing duo of Quick Temper and Silver Impulse were making their presence felt.

"I had a lot of horse," said Luciani. "At any point in time, I knew I was going to get by Emile (jockey Ramsammy, aboard pacesetter Schooner Bay). He was under a drive, and I was just nudging to get by him. I had the best horse today."

Carroll, who won Thursday's Labeeb Stakes with Estevan, appreciated the effort of her pupil.

"She's done nothing wrong since I've had her (since August 2004)," said Carroll of her five-time winner from 17 starts. "As soon as we started going two turns with her and found her niche, she hasn't look back. She's an honest little mare who does everything right."

The win, worth $119,280, raised Ballroom Deputy's career earnings to $295,347.

She paid $11.70, $5.30, and $4.50 across the board and combined with Quick Temper ($5.70, $4.40) for a $58.60 exacta. Silver Impulse ($7.30) rounded out the $618.80 trifecta.

(Chart, Equibase)