25 Abr. USA. Fifth Third Elkhorn S. G2. Keeneland. 12f. Turf. 200.000 $
1.- DANCING FOREVER (R.Douglas)
2.- DRILLING FOR OIL (K.Desormeaux)
3.- BRASS HAT (W.Martinez)


Dancing Forever, always well placed under Rene Douglas, went slightly outside entering Keeneland Race Course’s stretch and overtook pacesetter Drilling for Oil inside the furlong pole for a one-length victory on Friday in the $200,000 Fifth Third Elkhorn Stakes (G2), the closing feature of the Lexington track’s spring meet.

Drilling for Oil, who had vied for the early lead with Bee Charmer (Ire), finished second, 2 1/2 lengths clear of Brass Hat, the 2007 Massachusetts Handicap winner who was making only his fourth start on turf. The seven-year-old gelding finished a nose in front of Stream of Gold (Ire), the 2.30-to-1 favorite in the field of 11.

Bred and owned by the Phipps Stable of Ogden Mills “Dinny” Phipps and his family, Dancing Forever ran the Elkhorn’s 1 1/2 miles in 2:29.79 on firm turf.

By Rahy out of the Seeking the Gold mare Dancinginmydreams, Dancing Forever collected his first graded stakes victory in the Elkhorn. Unraced at two, he scored only a maiden victory at three in 2006 and an allowance victory at Churchill Downs in May 2007 .

Trainer Claude R. “Shug” McGaughey III said Dancing Forever found his stride last fall, placing in two Keeneland allowance races before winning Calder Race Course’s Our Dear Peggy Stakes on December 26. The five-year-old then finished a close second to Einstein (Brz) in the Gulfstream Park Turf Stakes (G1) on February 23.

McGaughey then decided to give Dancing Forever a break.

“We were pointing him for here,” McGaughey said. “He had run well over this track, and we liked the mile and a half.”

Bee Charmer, in company with Drilling for Oil, set a slow early pace, completing the first six furlongs in 1:16.47 while Douglas kept Dancing Forever comfortably in midpack along the rail. Bee Charmer fell away before the top of the stretch, and Douglas tipped his mount out to challenge Drilling for Oil.

Dancing Forever drew abreast of Drilling for Oil just inside the furlong pole and wore down the game front-runner in the final sixteenth.

“The winner was just too good,” said Kent Desormeaux, Drilling for Oil’s jockey.

Dancing Forever raised his career earnings to $347,870, and McGaughey said he has his sights on Belmont Park’s Manhattan Handicap (G1) on June 7.