Susie Raisher Photo

Dancing Buck scampers gate-to-wire in $150K Elusive Quality

by Keith McCalmont

J and N Stables and Diamond M Stable’s graded stakes-winning New York-bred Dancing Buck made every pole a winning one in Saturday’s Listed, $150,000 Elusive Quality, a six-furlong outer turf sprint for older horses, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by Michelle Nevin and piloted by Manny Franco, the 6-year-old War Dancer gelding entered from consecutive runner-up efforts sprinting 6 1/2-furlongs at Santa Anita Park when missing by a half-length in both the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez in December and the Grade 3 San Simeon on March 9 when in the care of conditioner Rick Dutrow, Jr.

“Having more recency on the other horses is always going to help. He loves this turf course, so we were excited to have him back,” said Nevin of Dancing Buck, who secured his second stakes win and first overall score since his five-length romp in the 2022 Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint for the conditioner.

The complexion of the race changed when 2-1 mutuel favorite and course record holder Nothing Better hopped at the start and spotted the field many lengths as a head’s up Franco took advantage and sent his charge to the front through an opening quarter-mile in 22.40 seconds under pressure from Bring Me a Check.

Dancing Buck led the field into the turn with Durante making a wide bid and Alogon following his move as a half-mile elapsed in 44.60. Franco kept his charge to task through the turn, spinning the field into the homestretch with a comfortable advantage and staying on strong to the wire to win by 1 1/4-lengths in a final time of 1:07.58 over the firm going.

American Monarch closed to finish second by a half-length over Alogon with half-brothers Yes and Yes and Thin White Duke landing fourth and fifth, respectively. Durante, Nothing Better, the slow starting Our Shot and Bring Me a Check rounded out the order of finish.

Nevin credited Franco for a smart steer after Nothing Better’s poor start.

“Manny gave him a great ride. He took advantage of the other horse not breaking and once he had control of the race, the horse was there for him,” Nevin said.

Franco, who won four races on the 11-race program, said he was happy to be alone on the lead.

“My plan was, if he [Nothing Better] breaks, I’m going to chase him, but at the same time, if he don’t break, I can make the lead,” Franco said. “I was aware of the break, so when I see that horse don’t break, I just went on and made the lead. He was so nice and comfortable, even with the fast fractions. He was comfortable on the lead and got it done.”

Nevin said Dancing Buck could possibly make his next start in the Grade 1, $500,000 Jaipur presented by Resolute Racing, a 5 1/2-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up on June 8 at Saratoga Race Course. The Jaipur offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint in November at Del Mar.

Dancing Buck, out of the multiple stakes-placed Catienus mare Frivolous Buck, is a full sibling to stakes-winner Mz Big Bucks. Bred in the Empire State by J & N Stables, Dancing Buck banked $82,500 in victory while improving his record to 21-7-5-1. He returned $8.50 for a $2 win bet.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Belmont at the Big A with an eight-race card featuring the Listed $150,000 License Fee in Race 3 and the Listed $150,000 Gold Fever in Race 7. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont at the Big A, and the best way to bet every race of the spring/summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.