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Danzon returns to stakes glory with nose win in Locust Grove
Winner of the 2007 Kentucky Cup Distaff (G3), Danzon finished third in both the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) and Mint Julep H. (G3) under the Twin Spires three seasons ago. Her form tailed off in 2008, but the dark bay returned from a lengthy freshening last fall and performed admirably over Turfway Park's Polytrack this winter, recording a pair of runner-up finishes in the Wintergreen S. and Fairway Fun S. as well as a third in the Likely Exchange S. After reeling off a pair of turf scores over allowance/optional claiming rivals at Churchill, she regained a bit of lost luster with her third straight victory on Saturday, improving her 2010 mark to 7-4-2-1, and has now earned $552,544 from a 29-10-4-6 career line. "It was awesome winning," Baker said. "She is a nice horse. I can do anything with her. In the mornings I trained her like a two-turn horse. She's a classy filly. She has a lot of heart. It was the owner's decision to claim the horse. I asked, 'Who?' and he said it was her, and I said 'Let's go for it.' We're going to Saratoga with her. There are a lot of options for her up there. I thought we got beat at the wire, but when the numbers came up and it was 6-9, I was excited." Sent off the 6-1 third choice among 11 rivals, Danzon paid $14.80, $8.60 and $5.60. Happiness Is, who tracked pacesetter War Tigress (War Chant) through splits of :24 4/5, :48 3/5 and 1:12 4/5 before striking the front in midstretch, just missed at 48-1 and gave back $42.40 and $21.20. C. S. Silk, who forwardly placed in fourth during the early stages, gave back $10.20 as the 10-1 fifth choice. Acoma (Empire Maker), the 7-5 favorite, rallied to the lead between calls in deep stretch but could not sustain her momentum, finishing another nose back in fourth. Keertana (Johar), the 5-2 second choice, was a nose back in fifth. Awesome Grannie (Awesome Again), Sweetest Song (Unbridled's Song), Meadow Saffron (Military), Lady's Laughter (Distorted Humor), War Tigress and Winter's Circle (Commendable) rounded out the order of finish. Go Ask Alex (Afleet Alex) was scratched. The lucrative exotics totaled $617.80 (exacta), $7,105 (trifecta) and $24,087.40 (6-9-11-4 superfecta). Bred in Kentucky by Woodcote Stud, Danzon is out of the winning Zappeuse (Kingmambo), who is also the dam of the stakes-placed La Reine Mambo (High Yield), a yearling colt by Bernardini and a 2010 colt by Curlin. Zappeuse is out of the Group 2-placed Danseuse du Nord (Ire) (Kahyasi), a half-sister to multiple Group 1 heroine Danseuse du Soir (Ire) (Thatching), the dam of Italian highweight Scintillo (GB) (Fantastic Light) and multiple Group 3 victor Jumbajukiba (Barathea [Ire]).
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