The Dance Smartly Stakes is a thoroughbred horse race run annually in August at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A Grade II stakes race raced on turf, it is open to fillies and mares three years of age and older and run at 1 116 miles. Originally known as the Woodbine Handicap, the race was renamed in 1998 for Dance Smartly, the second filly to win the Canadian Triple Crown who went undefeated during the 1991 racing season and was inducted into both the Canadian and United States Racing Hall of Fames.[1]

Dance Smartly Stakes
Grade II race
LocationWoodbine Racetrack
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Inaugurated1986 (as Woodbine Handicap)
Race typeThoroughbredFlat racing
WebsiteWoodbine Racetrack
Race information
Distance1 116 miles (8.5 furlongs)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationThree-year-olds & Up
WeightWeight for Age with allowances
Purse$200,000 (2023)

Inaugurated in 1986, it was raced on dirt through 1989 at a distance of 1 18 miles. In 1990 it was switched over to the turf course and raced that year at 1 116 miles after which it remained on the turf but at its original 1 18 miles. It was lengthened to 1 14 miles in 2017.[2] In 2022 the race returned to the current distance of 1 116 miles.

Records

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Time record on turf:

  • 1 116 miles (current distance): 1:39.46 – Wakanaka (2022)
  • 1 18 miles: 1:44.25 – Overheard (2014)
  • 1 14 miles: 1:59.51 – Santa Monica (2018)

Most wins:

Most wins by an owner:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Winners

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Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Time
2023 Miss Dracarys 5 Javier Castellano Neil D. Drysdale Al Shira'aa Farms 1:39.60
2022 Wakanaka 4 Rafael Manuel Hernandez William I. Mott Team Valor International & Gary Barber 1:39.46
2021 Mutamakina 5 Dylan Davis Christophe Clement Al Shira'aa Farms 2:01.26
2020 Theodora B. 5 Justin Stein Michael Dickinson Augustin Stable 2:02.35
2019 Holy Helena 5 Javier Castellano James Jerkens Stronach Stables 2:02.08
2018 Santa Monica 5 José Ortiz Chad C. Brown Magnier/Madaket Stables/Pearson 1:59.51
2017[3] Starship Jubilee (DH)
Rainha Da Bateria(DH)
4
5
Eurico Rosa Da Silva
Javier Castellano
Kevin Attard
Chad C. Brown
Kevin Attard, Soli Mehta
Leal Stable
2:01.91
2016 Lexie Lou 5 Patrick Husbands Mark E. Casse Gary Barber 1:44.89
2015 Strut the Course 5 Luis Contreras Barbara J. Minshall John Unger 1:45.41
2014 Overheard 4 Eurico Rosa Da Silva Malcolm Pierce Pin Oak Stable 1:44.25
2013 Solid Appeal 4 Jesse M. Campbell Reade Baker Jim & Susan Hill 1:46.19
2012 Marketing Mix 4 Julien Leparoux Thomas F. Proctor Glen Hill Farm 1:48.02
2011 Never Retreat 6 Shaun Bridgmohan Chris Block Team Block 1:46.48
2010 Mekong Melody 5 Patrick Husbands Roger L. Attfield David C. Egan 1:46.09
2009 Points of Grace 4 Luis Contreras Malcolm Pierce Live Oak Racing 1:45.51
2008 The Niagara Queen 5 Jim McAleney Steve Asmussen The Elite Racing Company 1:50.01
2007 Masseuse 5 Edgar Prado James J. Toner H.R.C. Elser et al. 1:45.55
2006 Ambitious Cat 5 Todd Kabel Eric Coatrieux Chiefswood Stable 1:49.81
2005 Noble Stella 4 Emile Ramsammy Roger Attfield Gary A. Tanaka 1:49.95
2004 Mona Rose 4 E. R. Da Silva R. Earl Barnett Paul & Frank O'Brien 1:48.18
2003 Madeira Mist 4 Patrick Husbands Christophe Clement Skymarc Farm 1:48.05
2002 Sweetest Thing 4 Jim McAleney Roger Attfield Lael Stables 1:45.72
2001 Alexis 5 Jono Jones Cliff Hopmans Jr. D. Morgan Firestone 1:47.81
2000 Except For Wanda 5 Jim McAleney Bruce R. Smither George W. Richter 1:46.61
1999 Ascot Yael 5 Patrick Husbands John A. Ross R.M.C. Stable 1:47.25
1998 Colorful Vices 5 Todd Kabel Mark Frostad Sam-Son Farm 1:46.20
1997 Woolloomooloo 5 Todd Kabel David R. Bell Richard & Jo Ellen Shaw 1:46.80
1996 Bold Ruritana 6 Robert Landry Barbara Minshall Minshall Farms 1:46.60
1995 Memories 4 Shane Sellers Burke Kessinger Jr. Haynes/New Phoenix Stable 1:47.20
1994 Silky Feather 4 Steven Bahen Richard Violette Jr. Stanton P. Powell 1:50.00
1993 Myrtle Irene 4 Sandy Hawley David C. Brown Don & Jane Anne McClelland 1:46.40
1992 Radiant Ring 4 Jack Lauzon James E. Day Sam-Son Farm 1:46.40
1991 Radiant Ring 3 Pat Day James E. Day Sam-Son Farm 1:46.00
1990 Fieldy 7 Eddie Maple Thomas J. Skiffington Jr. Fernwood Stable 1:44.80
1989 Charming Sassafras 4 Ray Sabourin John A. Ross Aubrey W. Minshall 1:52.00
1988 Grecian Flight 4 Craig Perret Joseph H. Pierce Jr. Henry C. B. Lindh 1:50.60
1987 Triple Wow 4 Don Seymour Roger Attfield Kinghaven Farms 1:54.00
1986 Bessarabian 4 Sandy Hawley Michael J. Doyle Eaton Hall Farm 1:52.00
*In 1986, Triple Wow finished first but was disqualified and placed last following a positive test for a banned medication.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Clothier, Gary (15 August 2010). "Ask Mr. Know-It-All Beloved crooner is remembered". berkshireeagle.com. United Features Syndicate. Retrieved 20 August 2023. A Canadian-born thoroughbred champion racehorse, Dance Smartly (1988-2007) won the Canadian Triple Crown in 1991 and is considered one of Canada's greatest racing fillies. The race was inaugurated in 1986 as the Woodbine Handicap; in1998, it was renamed to honor the filly.
  2. ^ Equibase.com. "Dance Smartly Stakes profile". www.equibase.com. Archived from the original on 2013-07-12. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
  3. ^ "Starship Jubilee, Rainha Da Bateria Win Dance Smartly". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2017-07-03.