Dance City breezes bullet in advance of Preakness

Last updated: 5/15/11 7:28 PM

Dance City, seen here taking a Gulfstream allowance
over Cal Nation, will seek his first black-type victory in the Preakness
(Joe Ganley/EquiSport Photos)

Preakness S. (G1) hopeful DANCE CITY (City Zip), working in company with
Gulfstream Park allowance winner Escort (First Samurai), breezed five furlongs
Sunday over Churchill Downs’ good track in 1:00 1/5 with exercise rider Fernando
Espinoza up.

Working after the morning renovation break, Dance City spotted Escort a
half-length at the outset of the work and finished five lengths in front while
producing fractions of :11 4/5, :23 1/5, :34 4/6 and :46 3/5. The Arkansas Derby
(G1) third galloped out six furlongs in 1:14 1/5.

Mike McCarthy, trainer Todd Pletcher’s Churchill Downs assistant, waited
until after the renovation break for the work that was the fastest of 20 at the
distance for the morning.

“We waited on purpose because we wanted a harrowed track,” McCarthy said of
Dance City’s third work at Churchill Downs since the April 16 Arkansas Derby.

McCarthy was with Dance City this winter in South Florida and has been with
the colt for the past four weeks in Louisville, Kentucky.

“I like what I see from him here and I was very pleased with his work today,”
McCarthy said of Dance City, who worked in company five furlongs last Sunday in
1:01.

A further boost to Dance City’s Preakness prospects came Saturday at Belmont
Park when Alternation (Distorted Humor) won the Peter Pan S. (G2) in his first
start since the Arkansas Derby. Alternation had finished 4 1/2 lengths behind
Dance City, who in turn was 1 1/2 lengths behind Nehro (Mineshaft), the Kentucky
Derby (G1) and Arkansas Derby runner-up.

“The Arkansas Derby has turned out to be a very live race,” McCarthy said.

King Congie (inside) just missed by a neck with third last out in the Blue Grass
(Keeneland/Coady Photography)

Working just as the track opened at 6 a.m. (EDT) was SARATOGA RED (Eddington),
a D. Wayne Lukas trainee who would need three defections as of Sunday afternoon to make the Preakness
field.

With Jon Court in the saddle, Saratoga Red worked five furlongs in company in
1:02 4/5 over a track labeled muddy. The move was the 14th fastest of 20 at the
distance.

Saratoga Red, sixth as the favorite in an optional claiming event on May 7
under the Twin Spires, made short work of his morning companion, Manhattan Man
(A.P. Indy), who was timed in 1:06.

Stakes winner KING CONGIE (Badge of Silver) went to the Belmont Park main
track early Sunday morning for his final serious preparation for Saturday’s
Preakness.

“He worked 1:04 3/5 around the dogs,” said trainer Tom Albertrani, noting
that King Congie was able to breeze on a fast track that later turned muddy. “It
was a nice work and he finished up very nicely.”

Exercise rider Edgar Acosta was aboard the dark bay sophomore, who finished
third in the Blue Grass S. (G1) at Keeneland last time out, just a neck behind
victorious stablemate Brilliant Speed (Dynaformer).