War Dancer holds on in three-way Virginia Derby finish

Magdalena Racing's War Dancer just withstood the thrust of Charming Kitten in

Saturday night's Grade 2, $500,000

Virginia

Derby, with the late-running Jack Milton another head away in third, in a

climactic conclusion to Colonial Downs' marquee race.

While War Dancer was registering his first career stakes decision in a mild

upset at 7-1, the highly-regarded Rydilluc came up empty in the stretch and

wound up a dead-heat eighth as the 5-2 favorite.

War Dancer had shown promise in his first two stakes appearances. Third in

the May 3 American Turf at Churchill Downs, the Ken McPeek colt was second in

the June 15 Centaur at Indiana Downs, and profited on the stretch-out to 1 1/4

miles here.

Redwood Kitten, one of a trio by 2004 Virginia Derby hero Kitten's Joy in

Saturday's renewal, showed the way through fractions of :24, :48 4/5, 1:13 4/5

and 1:38 2/5 on the good outer turf. Rydilluc was traveling comfortably in

second, and Charming Kitten was stalking on the rail. Alan Garcia had War Dancer

nestled just off the pace, but the son of the red-hot War Front was stealthily

creeping forward at every call.

Rydilluc tried to launch his bid at the top of the stretch, but the favorite

found little under pressure. Although Redwood Kitten continued to lead, his

hopes of springing a 14-1 surprise were diminishing as the closers played their

hands.

War Dancer erupted on the outside, and Charming Kitten, who momentarily had

to steady on the fence, managed to thread the needle inside of Redwood Kitten.

War Dancer produced a better initial burst to strike the front, but Charming

Kitten was still grinding it out, and coming ever closer. In deep stretch, Jack

Milton flashed home to make it a three-way scramble.

As the trio crossed the wire in a final time of 2:03 2/5, the outcome hinged

on the head-bob between War Dancer and Charming Kitten. The photo illustrated

that War Dancer had his head in front when it counted, fueling mutuels of

$16.80, $7.40 and $4.40.

It was another 3 1/4 lengths back to Draw Two in fourth, followed by Redwood

Kitten, Fear the Kitten, Readyshakego, the dead-heating Rydilluc and Gefest, and

the trailing Bethel.

With the $285,000 winner's check, War Dancer more than tripled his bankroll

to $418,569 and improved his scorecard to 7-3-2-1. Making his debut in a January

12 turf maiden at Gulfstream Park, he finished second to fellow first-timer Jack

Milton. War Dancer next tried dirt on February 9, but didn't appear as effective

on the surface switch when fourth to Saint Vigeur, Wabbajack and Freedom Child.

Back on the Gulfstream turf, War Dancer promptly broke his maiden by two lengths

on March 9. He got off to a horrible start in an entry-level allowance at

Keeneland on April 10, but recovered to produce an eye-catching, last-to-first

performance, and earned his way into stakes company.

Bred by Cherry Valley Farm and Stuart S. Janney III in Kentucky, War Dancer

brought $25,000 as a Keeneland November weanling. The dark bay was in greater

demand as a yearling at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga, where he sold to his current

connections for $220,000. Out of the Grade 2-placed Alydeed mare Deed I Do, War

Dancer descends from the same female line as multiple Grade 3 winner Raja's

Revenge and Grade 2 scorer Archer City Slew.

War Dancer's fourth dam is the influential matron Passing Look, dam of Grade

1 star Trumpet's Blare, Grade 3 victress Passing Vice and multiple stakes winner

In My Cap, ancestress of Grade 1 hero and $3 million-earner Albert the Great.

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