Photo: A.P. Indian by Patricia Branan-Wendell
Dancing Rags Wins Darley Alcibiades
A. P. Indian Sets Track Record in Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Victory
LEXINGTON, KY (Oct. 7, 2016) – Chadds Ford Stable’s Dancing Rags swept past pace-setting Caroline Test at the top of the stretch and had more than enough left to hold off a late bid from Daddys Lil Darling to win the 65th running of the $400,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1) for 2-year-old fillies by a length before a Fall Meet record Friday opening-day crowd of 19,882. The previous Friday opening-day Fall Meet record was 19,026 established in 2011.
Trained by Graham Motion and ridden by Angel Cruz, who posted his first Grade 1 victory in his Keeneland debut, Dancing Rags earned a berth in the $2 million 14 Hands Winery Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) to be run Nov. 5 at Santa Anita.
In the race preceding the Darley Alcibiades, Green Lantern Stables’ homebred A. P. Indian scored a nose victory over Limousine Liberal in track-record time in the 164th running of the $250,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) at six furlongs.
Caroline Test rolled to an uncontested lead under Jose Ortiz in the Darley Alcibiades and led the field of 14 through fractions of :23.72, :47.43 and 1:11.82. Cruz had Dancing Rags running third through the early stages before going after the leader on the far turn. Dancing Rags completed the 1 1/16 miles on a fast main track in 1:44.69.
The win in the Darley Alcibiades marked the second victory in three starts for Dancing Rags, a Maryland-bred daughter of Union Rags purchased at Keeneland’s 2015 September Yearling Sale. The $240,000 winner’s share boosted her earnings to $275,360.
Dancing Rags returned $26.60, $10.60 and $7.40. Daddys Lil Darling, ridden by Corey Lanerie, returned $6.20 and $4.60 with Fun finishing two lengths back in third under Brian Hernandez Jr., and returning $6.40 to show.
Caroline Test was another three-quarters of a length back in fourth and was followed in order by Dream Dancing, For Honor, Benner Island, Queen Bernardina, I’mluckysgirl, favored Diadura, Sully’s Dream, Price too High, Cold Hearted Pearl and Lady Hansen.
Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix
Trained by Arnaud Delacour and ridden by Joe Bravo, A. P. Indian posted his sixth consecutive victory and second victory in a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” challenge. In his previous start, he had secured a spot in the $1.5 million TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) with a triumph in the Forego (G1).
Breaking from the inside, A. P. Indian was shuffled back approaching the turn. The Great War led the field of seven with a first quarter mile in :22.35 but moving past the half-mile pole Cinco Charlie and Limousine Liberal had clear runs at the leader as A. P. Indian dropped back to fourth along the rail.
Entering the stretch, Bravo swung A. P. Indian off the rail and gradually wore down Limousine Liberal, who had taken command at midstretch. A. P. Indian completed the distance in 1:08.43 to break the track record of 1:08.58 set by Runhappy in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
The performance resulted in the second victory in the race for Bravo, who won with Forest Wildcat in 1996.
The victory was worth $150,000 and increased A. P. Indian’s earnings to $1,262,434 with a record of 17-11-4-0 with the past four victories coming in graded stakes.
A. P. Indian is a 6-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Indian Charlie out of the A.P. Indy mare Ender’s Sister.
He returned $2.80, $2.20, $2.10. Limousine Liberal, ridden by Jose Ortiz, returned $4 and $3 with Ami’s Flatter finishing 3½ lengths back in third and returning $2.60 to show under Florent Geroux.
Completing the field in order were Alsvid, The Great War, W.B. Smudge and Cinco Charlie.