It’s not often that Canadian horses get their due recognition, same goes for fillies and mares. So it may be surprising to some that I am going to write about a Canadian Filly that had a season for the ages in 1991.<\/p>\n
Dance Smartly was bred and born on Ontario in 1988, she is a daughter of Danzig out of the Canadian Hall of Fame mare Classy ‘N Smart. She showed promise as a 2 year old, finishing 3rd in the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Fillies and was pointed towards the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill. While at Keeneland in early spring she developed a virus and those plans were scratched and it was decided to point her toward the Canadian Oaks. In preparation, she easily won the Startship and Selene stakes with Pat Day in the saddle.<\/p>\n
She was made the favorite in the Canadian Oaks and would prove the bettors correct. She sat off the lead set by stablemate Wilderness Song, and seized control at the top of the stretch then drawing clear by 5 lengths under a hand ride. It was an effortless performance and proved she was the best female horse in Canada. After this easy win, she was to take on the boys in the Queen’s Plate. Only 2 other fillies had won both the Oaks and Queen’s Plate, and Dance Smartly was going to try to become the third.<\/p>\n
The Queen’s Plate run over a mile and a quarter on the dirt would be the first time Dance Smartly had taken on the boys. Pat Day in the irons took her back off the pace and ran a ground saving trip on the rail sitting 3rd about 2 lengths off the pace. At the top of the stretch she had pulled even with the leaders. Almost condescendingly Pat Day looked over both shoulders and Dance Smartly burst to the lead and drew off to win be an easy 8 lengths.<\/p>\n
The Bank of Montreal had a $1,000,000 bonus for winners of the Canadian Triple Crown and Dance Smartly looked much the best. It was decided to tackle the boys again in the Prince of Wales. Much like previous races, Dance Smartly stalked the front runners and seized control near the top of the stretch. Front runner Professor Rabbit battled on gamely but eventually succumbed to the long striding Dance Smartly who won by 2 lengths again under a hand ride by Pat Day.<\/p>\n
August 18th, 1991 and the filly was set to take on the boys again and attempt to win the Canadian Triple Crown in the Breeder’s Stakes, run over a mile and half on the turf at Woodbine. In her typical stalking style, Dance Smartly ran alone in 3rd behind the dueling front runners Speak No Evil and Shoe Danz. Seizing control at the top of the stretch the big filly drew off and won by 8 lengths. Securing the Canadian Triple Crown and the $1,000,000 bonus check from the Bank of Montreal.<\/p>\n
The celebrations were short lived as it was back to work and preparing to take on the boys again, this time in the Molson Export Million. Champion American 2yo Fly So Free, and Multiple Stakes winner Jackie Wackie from Florida both shipped in to take on the newly crowned Queen of Canada. Familiar foe Shoe Danz set the early fraction as Dance Smartly sat off the pace in second, and in her typical fashion she kicked home to win by 2 lengths setting a new track record for the Mile and 1 furlong in 1:49 and 1\/5.<\/p>\n
Having proven that she was the best horse of any gender in Canada, it was off to Churchill Downs to contest the Breeder’s Cup Distaff against the best fillies and mares in North America. She had many doubters going into the race, but those doubts were put to rest as Dance Smartly in trademark style, stalked the pace and won by 2 lengths over a late closing Versailles Treaty.<\/p>\n
Dance Smartly finished her 1991 Campaign undefeated. She won the Canadian Oaks, Canadian Triple Crown, and Breeder’s Cup Distaff. At year’s end she was voted Eclipse Champion 3yo filly, Canadian Champion Filly and Canadian Horse of the Year. She also became the all-time leading money winning female horse. As if this wasn’t enough, she went on to win Canadian Broodmare of the year in 2001, and produced back to back Queren’s Plate winners Scatter the Gold and Dancethruthedawn both by Mr. Prospector.<\/p>\n
She truly was the Queen in 1991, and a beloved horse by fans everywhere.<\/p>\n
Below are some youtube links to her races.<\/p>\n