Taking to the Haggin Turf Course once again, 6-1 shot Gaslight Dancer recorded his first stakes victory of his career with a solid performance in the Palisades S. on Sunday afternoon.
Winning on the grass at Kentucky Downs Sept. 3 in his second career start, Gaslight Dancer was the favorite Oct. 9 in the GIII Futurity S. during the BAQ meet, only to lose by a neck to Nagirroc (Lea). With a tough test Nov. 4 in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, he drew the fourteenth hole, but still turned in a respectable sixth.
Back at Keeneland in this spot, the $260,000 OBSAPR buy patiently waited his turn along the rail as Bushido (First Samurai) blazed a trail. Into the stretch, a trio of suitors vied for the lead, while the Mike Maker trainee cut to the outside. The bay colt flashed a nice turn of foot and passed his tiring rivals to win by 1 1/2 length over late-running 51-1 longshot Two of a Kind (Overanalyze).
“Looks pretty good,” trainer Mike Maker said about his horse's improvement over this past year. “I know last year he was pretty headstrong. [Today] he looked like he settled nice, saved ground and kicked home. Last year, he was all out wanting to go for the lead. I still think he'll stretch out to a mile.”
The first of his dam's progeny, the winner also has a 2-year-old half-brother named Moon Raid (Munnings). His dam is a half-sister to GSW Summer Raven (Summer Squall), who is responsible for MGSW Lewis Bay (Bernadini) and GIII Holy Bull S. victor Winslow Homer (Unbridled Song). The 8-year-old bay mare RNA'd last November for $250,000 at Keeneland while in foal to McKinzie.
PALISADES S., $246,469, Keeneland, 4-16, 3yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:02.71, gd.
1–GASLIGHT DANCER, 118, c, 3, by City of Light
1st Dam: Raindrops Droptops, by Medaglia d'Oro
2nd Dam: Rahy Rose, by Rahy
3rd Dam: Rose Park, by Plugged Nickle
($80,000 Ylg '21 FTKJUL; $260,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR). 1ST
BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Paradise Farms Corp., David Staudacher,
Skychai Racing LLC and Angelo Carlesimo; B-Springhouse Farm
(KY); T-Michael J. Maker; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $141,438. Lifetime
Record: 5-2-1-0, $282,554.
2–Two of a Kind, 118, c, 3, Overanalyze–Freud's Irish Miss, by
Freud. O-K and R Racing Stable and Town Branch Racing; B-C.
Swann & Wetherbee Holdings, LLC. (KY); T-Brian A. Lynch.
$45,625.
3–Chiringo, 118, c, 3, Bolt d'Oro–Street Love, by Street Boss.
($50,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $260,000 2yo '22 OBSMAR).
1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Harrell Ventures, LLC and Seaside Racing;
B-Sandra Sexton (KY); T-George Weaver. $22,813.
Margins: 1HF, 2 1/4, NK. Odds: 6.67, 51.55, 25.25.
Also Ran: Crispy Cat (GB), Private Creed, No Nay Hudson (Ire),
Fadethenoise, Bushido, Golden Nugget, Storm Daddy,
Damon's Mound, Olazabal.
Scratched: New York Thunder.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
Mike Maker had #5 Gaslight Dancer (6/1) ready to go off the layoff!
The 3-year-old by City of Light wins the Palisades S. at Keeneland, giving @Tyler_Gaff another victory on the card. #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/LHlVvYqKPV
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 16, 2023
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