By Bill Finley
When Adam Rice comes to Saratoga he means business.
The 32-year-old trainer and nephew of Linda Rice picked up a pair of Saratoga winners Sunday when he won the day's second race with Pennsylvania-bred Dancing Spirit (Social Inclusion). The race was for 2-year-old maiden fillies and it was run at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the grass. It was the second career start for the 2-year-old filly, who finished second in her debut on the Tapeta surface at Presque Isle Downs.
For the 32-year-old trainer, who started his first horse in Saratoga in 2015, it was his sixth winner from his first nine starts at Saratoga. Later on the card, he sent out Closethegame Sugar (Girvin), who won the Mahony S. at odds of 19-1.
“I want to attest it to fact we train on a synthetic track at Presque Isle,” Rice said. “It allows these horses to stay comfortable on a springy, light surface. I think their energy level stays high. I think the dirt can drag them down a little bit. Conditioning-wise it sets them up to stay fresh and happy. That surface allows us to get these horses fit and dialed in. I think I have proven to myself that I have a good idea of what is required to get it done and I like to think I do a good job preparing these babies for a race.”
Normally, Rice shows up with inexpensive horses or horses that don't exactly jump off the page when it comes to pedigrees. He is also the owner of Dancing Spirit and bought her privately from breeder Glenn Brok when she was a weanling. Rice said Dancing Spirit was part of a five-horse package and that Brok was looking to get out of the business.
“It was when she was a weanling. I showed up at the farm five hours after he called me and looked at all five of them,” Rice said. “I got my eyes on them and bought them. I had some cash in my pocket and this opportunity came along. Why not? You can't make any money if you don't have any horses.”
Ridden by Jose Ortiz and sent off at 8-1, Dancing Spirit enjoyed a good trip. She was third early before grabbing the lead near the top of the stretch. She opened up by two lengths with a furlong to go and had enough left to hold off runner-up Sea Dancer (Mastery). The winning time was 1:45.03.
The Chad Brown first-time starter Nikitis (Audible) was bet down to 115-100 favoritism. She finished fifth and had no obvious excuses.
Rice is known for selling off his young horses, particularly after they've had a win like the one picked up Sunday by Dancing Spirit. This one is no exception.
“Everything in the barn is for sale as long as the price is right,” Rice said.
2nd-Saratoga, $105,000, Msw, 8-13, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:45.03, fm, 1/2 length.
DANCING SPIRIT (f, 2, Social Inclusion–Dancing Sparks, by Jump Start) debuted over the synthetic track at Presque Isle Downs July 17 and ran a respectable second when sprinting the five furlongs. Ambitiously spotted in this stretch out on the turf facing tougher company, the 8-1 shot was prominently placed throughout while tracking Dr. Ray D. (Constitution). Maneuvered down to save ground against the fence by jockey Jose Ortiz, Dancing Spirit stayed as long as she could before tipping back out swing three wide off the turn. Engaged with late leader Out too Late (GB) (Expert Eye {GB}), the Pennsylvania-bred filly dug in gamely as she turned back that rival and held off Sea Dancer (Mastery) to prevail by a half-length. Dancing Sparks reported a filly, Dancing for Jack (Eastwood), last year and was bred to Brody's Cause for next Spring. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $65,550. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O/T-Adam Rice; B-Glenn E. Brok LLC (PA).
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