Soldier's Dancer rules Miami Mile

Last updated: 10/18/08 6:22 PM

Soldier’s Dancer picked up his third stakes
win from his last four starts in the Miami Mile
(Jim Lisa Photo)

Herman Heinlein’s SOLDIER’S DANCER (Lost Soldier) rallied to the lead in
upper stretch and drew off to a four-length tally in Saturday’s $100,000
Miami
Mile H. (G3) at Calder. Trained by David Vivian, the four-year-old gelding
recorded his seventh stakes victory while improving his mark to 25-9-6-4,
$933,080. Manoel Cruz guided the even-money favorite, who paid $4.20, $2.60 and
$2.20 after completing eight furlongs on the firm turf in 1:35 3/5.

Quistopher (Middlesex Drive) sprinted to the fore when the gates opened and
established early fractions in :24, :47 4/5 and 1:11 2/5 before throwing in the
towel. Soldier’s Dancer settled into a customary rating position near the back
of the field and began to pass rivals on the far turn. The gray swung wide for
the stretch drive and quickly inhaled the leaders, rallying to the lead near the
eighth pole, before easily pulling away in deep stretch.

Winner of the P.T.H.A.
President’s Cup S. at Philadelphia Park in his previous start, Soldier’s Dancer
also captured the Florida Cup Turf Classic earlier this year as well
as the Calder Derby (G3), Tropical Park Derby (G3) and Florida Cup Sophomore Turf last
season. At two, he posted his first stakes win in the Arthur I. Appleton Juvenile
Turf S. He’s placed in eight black-type events, including the 2007 Virginia
Derby (G2).

Wise River (Belong to Me) got up late for second at 4-1 and returned $3.80 and
$3. It was three parts of a length back to Fair Weather Stan (Tiger Ridge) in
third. Show yielded $5.20 at 12-1, and 7-2 second choice Magic Mecke (Mecke)
rounded out the superfecta. The exotics paid $18 (exacta), $113.20 (trifecta)
and $323.80 (5-11-6-1 superfecta). Mr. Silver (Concorde’s Tune), A. P. Magic
(A.P. Indy), Quistopher, Serapi Cat (Wind Whipper), Justin Rules (Mr. Greeley)
and Rexson’s Rose (Suave Prospect) completed the order of finish. Greycliff
Exchange (Exchange Rate), Honest Trip (Trippi), How’s Your Halo (Halo’s Image),
It’s a Bird (Birdonthewire) and Marnesia’s Big Boy (Halo’s Image) were all
scratched.

Bred in Florida by Franks Farm, Soldier’s Dancer commanded only $4,200 at the
2004 Fasig-Tipton Keeneland November sale and RNA’ed at the 2005 Fasig-Tipton
Kentucky October sale. He’s out of the Gate Dancer mare Heather’s Dancer and
counts the unraced juvenile Whistler’s Dream (Mutakddim) as a half-brother.
Heather’s Dancer is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 victress and millionaire
Heatherten (Forceten) and 1993 Florida Derby (G1) winner Bull Inthe Heather
(Ferdinand). This is the female family of this year’s Oak Tree Mile (G2) hero
Hyperbaric (Sky Classic).