Grade I winner Come Dancing (Malibu Moon), who has been staying in the D. Wayne Lukas barn after being shipped from Carlos Martin's outfit in New York, will remain with Lukas as she targets the Apr. 18 GI Apple Blossom H. for her seasonal debut.
“Carlos Martin sent her in in beautiful shape, so my job is to keep her happy and move her forward,” Lukas told the Oaklawn notes team.
Lukas said fellow trainer Dale Romans suggested Martin, grandson of the late Hall of Fame trainer, Frank “Pancho” Martin, send Come Dancing to Lukas in Arkansas. Romans also trains for breeder/owner Marc Holliday (Blue Devil Racing Stable).
“Usually when they show up in the barn, there's a problem and they want you to correct it,” said Lukas, who annually winters at Oaklawn. “They don't usually come in looking like she does and working like she does.”
Come Dancing, a five-time stakes winner, hasn't started since finishing sixth in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint–her only career race outside New York–Nov. 2 at Santa Anita. The 6-year-old had previously captured the GI Ketel One Ballerina S. Aug. 24 at Saratoga and the GII Gallant Bloom H. Sept. 22 at Belmont Park. Overall, Come Dancing has won 8 of 14 career starts and earned $1,064,950.
“She's impressive,” Lukas said. “I've had a number of, something like 19 Eclipse-champion fillies, and she fits the mold.”
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