By Bill Finley
It's well-known around the racetrack that a good horse can come from anywhere.
Saturday's eighth race at Saratoga, a seven-furlong maiden special weight race run on the dirt, featured a field of nine. No surprise that eight of the starters were bred in Kentucky. The only one that wasn't was Dapper Moon (Malibu Moon), a Louisiana-bred. But he had no problem conquering his fashionably-bred rivals from the Blue Grass State, winning the race by five lengths for trainer Dallas Stewart and owner Murray Valene.
“He doesn't know where he was born,” Valene said. “That's all I race, Louisiana-breds.”
It was Valene's second time winning at Saratoga with a Louisiana-bred. The first was Designer Legs (Graeme Hall), the winner of the 2013 GII Adirondack Stakes.
Dapper Moon was second in his debut in what Stewart said was a promising race.
“I really liked this horse,” Stewart said. “To win at seven furlongs in Saratoga, that's a big move. He's a colt that ran second first time out and a colt that has a lot going for him. He won very professionally today.”
Ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., Dapper Moon stalked the early pace from third, made a three-wide move on the far turn and took off from there to win by five lengths over Guns Loaded (Gun Runner). Tap Into This (Tapit), the 3-2 favorite, finished third in what was a big performance considering he broke well behind the rest of the field.
Stewart said that Dapper Moon is not a particularly big horse and that his weight is something he has had to keep an eye on.
“We've always been concerned about his weight,” he said. “We're always looking to get more calories into his body.”
Dapper Moon was the third maiden winner at the meet for Stewart.
“I have a lot of nice horses and a lot of great owners,” Stewart said. “They spent some money, so I'm trying to give them a little return.”
Stewart added it's possible that Dapper Moon could make his next start in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Dapper Moon was purchased for $130,000 at OBS April. Sixth race maiden winner Laurice (Bolt d'Oro) was purchased at the same sale for $460,000. Prior to the OBS sale, Dapper Moon was an RNA at the 2023 Texas Thoroughbred Association Yearling sale.
Dapper Moon paid $10.80 and completed the seven furlongs in 1:25.04.
#4 Dapper Moon open up in the end to win R8 at Saratoga under @RSantana_jr for trainer @dallasstewart3! 🌙
Another top pick winner for handicapper @atthetrack7, this time at 4/1! 💰 pic.twitter.com/WckmHDdNRB
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 31, 2024
8th-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 8-31, 2yo, 7f, 1:25.04, ft, 5 lengths.
DAPPER MOON (c, 2, Malibu Moon–Fashioned Gem, by Old Fashioned), second over track and trip on debut July 20, left the stalls as the 4-1 third choice and quickly had something to say about the early pace. Ricardo Santana, Jr. settled the gray into a clear third behind longshot Lucas's Mischief (Into Mischief), who was hounded by Guns Loaded (Gun Runner ) through :22.79 and :46.62 first fractions. The pacesetter waved the white flag on the far turn as Guns Loaded continued on and Dapper Moon spun wide, the latter rallying down the lane for a clear-cut five-length victory. Dapper Moon hails from the same family as late 90s MGSW sprinter sensation Kelly Kip (Kipper Kelly). His dam has a yearling Practical Joke yearling colt who sold at the recent Texas yearling sale for $20,000 to Jeff Claman. Sales History: $79,000 RNA Ylg '23 TTAYRL; $130,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $75,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV .
O-Valene Farms LLC; B-Coteau Grove Farms, LLC (LA); T-Dallas Stewart.
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