Local Dancer(SWE) surprises in Aberlour Challenge

Local Dancer(SWE) pulled off the upset in this week’s Aberlour Challenge, owning the second half of the race to cross the wire a length and a quarter ahead of the field. The colt posted a career best 78.0 speed figure in his turf debut, capturing his first career stakes victory. The win brings his career earnings to just short of the 50K mark in five starts. Those all important juvenile stakes points catapulted him from an unranked status to a rank of 58 in the Juvenile Turf Sprint division. With the short odds in this field, it wasn’t a banner week at the betting window, but the longshot win did generate some revenue, paying $7.90 $3.70 $2.30 across the board. He was also the driving force behind a $21.80 exacta payoff, and $43.50 in the trifecta.

Barb’s Assistant(ENG) supplied the early excitement in this one, nosing out to an early lead on the field. Local Dancer(SWE) and Give Me A Reason(KY) were right on her tail, though, and didn’t give her much breathing room in the early going. As they approached the half, Barb’s Assistant(ENG) put on a burst and managed to open up a length at the halfway mark. The breathing space was short lived though, as the stalkers took over the pace, surging past to duel to the top of the stretch. Heading for home though, it was all Local Dancer(SWE), walking the way from the competition down the stretch to win by a respectable length and a half. Give Me A Reason(KY) held on for second in a game effort. Barb’s Assistant(ENG) faded in the stretch, but kept a hold on third place, three and a quarter lengths out at the wire.