Voodoo Dancer beat Golden Corona by 2 3/4 lengths in the $113,2000 Beaugay Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Aqueduct on Sunday, giving trainer Christophe Clement a sweep of the two graded stakes races run at Aqueduct this weekend. Voodoo Dancer, ridden by Jerry Bailey, covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.10 on good turf and paid $4.30, $3.10, and $2.30, earning $67,920 for Green Hills Farm.
Cozzy Corner set moderate fractions while loose on the lead but was reeled in by Babae after running six furlongs in 1:11.88. Voodoo Dancer rallied wide into the stretch before catching Babae late and pulling clear for the win.
"She was a little keen today with the soft pace and all," said Bailey. "There were some anxious moments at the top of the stretch, but that was about it. Once I got her in the clear she accelerated."
Golden Corona nipped Babae at the line for second, finishing a nose in front of that rival. Nouvelle, Tippity Witch, Sluice, Salty You, Cozzy Corner, Ready, and Shopping for Love completed the order of finish.
Golden Corona returned $6.10 and $3.60. Babae paid $2.90 to show. The winning exacta combination paid $34.
The win marked Bailey's fifth in the Beaugay.
"For her first time back this year, I thought she ran very well," said Clement, who also saddled Saturday's Withers (gr. III) winner. "I had some concerns about the ground being soft because she likes it firm. It couldn't have been too soft because they went the half-mile in :48 1/5. When she's right, she closes with a strong kick like she did today. We'll either run her in the Gamely in California or the Just a Game at Belmont."
The win marks the fifth stakes win for Voodoo Dancer and her third in a graded stakes. The 4-year-old daughter of Kingmambo previously won the Garden City Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IT) and Lake George Stakes (gr. IIIT). The Beaugay win improves her career mark to seven wins from 11 career starts.
Sunday was the final day of the spring meet at Aqueduct. Racing resumes at Belmont Park Wednesday. (Chart,
Equibase)
