Dancinginherdreams readying for Forward Gal

DANCINGINHERDREAMS (Tapit) stamped herself as a filly with a big
future while winning both of her 2010 starts impressively, and
everything she has done in her training at Palm Meadows has only raised
expectations.

Trainer John Ward is hoping to give Dancinginherdreams three preps for the Kentucky Oaks (Reed Palmer Photography/Churchill Downs) “I think I’ve brought her back up where she needs to be — about 21, 22 days to go,” said trainer John Ward, who has tabbed the $200,000 Forward Gal S. (G2) on January 30 for his filly’s 2011 debut. “She’s been training just as good as you’d want.” Dancinginherdreams breezed five furlongs Wednesday in 1:00 4/5, the fastest of 12 at the distance, to the delight of both Ward and jockey Julien Leparoux. “She just melted in his hands, waited, stayed behind a horse, and took the dirt,” Ward said. “She worked the first half in about 49 and change. He just softened his hands and she quickened in :11 2/5 — that’s what makes you appreciate her so much.” Dancinginherdreams has demonstrated a brilliant turn of foot in both of her starts: a five-length debut score at Keeneland on October 10, when she closed from 11th with a dazzling sweeping move; and a 5 1/4-length triumph in the Pocahontas S. (G2) at Churchill Downs only 21 days later, when she courageously split horses in the stretch with the aplomb of a more experienced horse.

“The sudden turn of foot, the acceleration, is what puts her into a
special category. In her second race, she was down inside and doing what
she needed to do. When Julien asked her, she quickened extremely well
for a big horse,” Ward said. “To put it in football terms, she’s like a
wide receiver who can make the cut-and-go and nobody can cover.”

The ultimate goal is the Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs on May
6, for which Ward will give his filly three preps.

“She’s a fun filly to train, because she’s got a lot of talent, but
also because she’s such a mature animal when she is actually racing or
at a higher speed,” said Ward, who saddled Monarchos for victories in
the 2001 Florida Derby (G1) and Kentucky Derby (G1). “She’s like a
five-year-old racehorse, as far as experience goes, with a teenage
girl’s body and mind. So you’ve got to work with both scenarios. But
she’s most comfortable when she’s actually in a race.”