From the Spa: July 17 Midlantic-breds in Saratoga stakes

I Spent It wins the 2014 Saratoga Special. Photo by NYRA/Adam Coglianese.

by Joseph Aiello 

“From the Spa” returns to keep you up-to-date on horses bred in the mid-Atlantic racing in Saratoga stakes   

Sunday, July 17th sees the Grade III Quick Call Stakes at Saratoga as the eighth race and yet another Midlantic entry in a competitive field. This time, a Pennsylvania bred, Dance Code, makes his return to the Spa as a three year old after two distant finishes in last year’s tries. In both of his efforts here at two, Dance Code was overlooked by the betting public, going off at around 30/1 for the Grade III Sanford and Grade II Saratoga Special. This year appears no different, holding the longest morning line odds of the group at 30/1. While this colt by Honor Code – Dancinginthestreet, by Street Boss has had his struggles at this level, he did win the Parx Juvenile in December to pick up his first stakes win, and switches to turf for the first time which may lead to some improvement here. Even then, this still appears to be an uphill battle for this Juan Vazquez trainee.

Breaking from the five post, Dance Code comes off the layoff for owners Richie’s World Stables LLC, who purchased him as a two year old for $50,000. With all of his wins so far coming as a two year old, his owners are still looking forward to him maturing into his peak racing form, but a recent forty-eight flat four furlong work could indicate that he is ready to have a top performance. A new jockey in Abner Adorno, who races at Saratoga for the first time since 2019, could provide a change of pace here, and will likely be aggressive from the jump. With all of his best races starting with a pace-setting trip, it appears that Dance Code’s best chance is to take advantage of what has been a dry turf course and attack from the break. Dance Code was bred by Blackstone Farm LLC and starts as the only first time turfer in this field.