With the 2014 Maryland Million nearly at hand, we will take a look back at the 2013 edition, highlighting the winners and telling the stories.
Last year’s Maryland Million Distaff field included four stakes winners, three of whom had won multiple stakes.
It also included Maddy’s Dance, a then-three-year-old daughter of Dance With Ravens who entered off a win but had been fourth and fifth in two prior stakes tries. But when Spring Dance carved out an opening half mile in s sharp 46 1/5 seconds, the closer had the setup she needed to upset the $100,000, seven furlong test.
Under Daniel Centeno, Maddy’s Dance, last after a half-mile, tipped wide rounding the turn then closed in the center of the track to collar Ann’s Smart Dancer in the shadow of the wire.
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- Maddy’s Dance (John Rigattieri/Dennis Federico)
- Ann’s Smart Dancer (Philip Serpe/The Elkstone Group LLC)
- Ju Ju Eyeballs (Jason Servis/Mr. Amore Stable)[/boxify]
“She broke well, but there was a lot of speed in the race and we let them go,” Centeno said. That proved to be a prescient strategy; the final order of finish was the exact opposite of the order after the first call.
“I felt good going into the race. I thought she’d close,” said trainer John Rigattieri.
Maddy’s Dance had been put up to first by disqualification in her last start before the Maryland Million, in a first-level allowance at Delaware Park. In her two prior stakes tries, she’d been beaten at least six lengths.
Favored Ju Ju Eyeballs, winner of two prior stakes, made the lead in the stretch but could not hold on and finished third.
Maddy’s Dance is along in time in the Distaff. Photo by Laurie Asseo.
MADDY’S DANCE file
- Breeding: Dance With Ravens-Maddy’s Terms, by Private Terms
- Race record (as of 10/14/14): 15-5-1-3, earnings of $165,940
- Humans:
- Breeder D. J. Federico
- Trainer John Rigattieri
- Owner Dennis J. Federico
- Jockey Daniel Centeno
- For more:
