Flashy Dancer, a 3-year-old filly by Curlin out of Actress, earned ‘TDN Rising Star’ honors by coming from behind to win at Oaklawn Park, marking her as the 26th ‘Rising Star’ for Curlin and showcasing the successful Curlin x Tapit cross.
‣ Flashy Dancer, a 3-year-old filly by Curlin out of Actress by Tapit, earned “TDN Rising Star” honors with a remarkable come-from-behind victory at Oaklawn Park, overcoming a slow start and a significant gap in the stretch to win by 1 1/4 lengths.
‣ Despite being a well-beaten second in her debut, Flashy Dancer demonstrated significant improvement and resilience in her second start, showcasing her potential under the guidance of trainer Brad Cox and earning her first career win.
‣ Flashy Dancer comes from a notable pedigree, being a half-sister to last year’s GIII Withers S. winner and GII Wood Memorial S. runner-up Hit Show, and part of the successful Curlin x Tapit cross responsible for 2023 Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish, highlighting her potential for future success on the track.
FLASHY DANCER ($8.60) and @flothejock waltzed down the lane to grab the win in @OaklawnRacing in race 7. This @bradcoxracing trainee is a 1/2 sister to Hit Show!
Time for the late Pick 5: https://t.co/y3C5TvdfRv pic.twitter.com/7fXtlF5rrP
— TVG (@TVG) April 20, 2024
Gary and Mary West’s homebred, Flashy Dancer, a filly aged three, did something spectacular at Oaklawn Park Saturday. Under the guidance of trainer Brad Cox, she soared from the back to clinch the ‘TDN Rising Star’ title on her second outing. It was quite the scene.
Starting off, Flashy Dancer didn’t exactly leap out of the gates. She lagged behind the pack, trailing through the initial fractions of the race. The pace was quick: :23.03 and :46.97, but she wasn’t in it. Not yet, anyway.
Then, as they rounded the far turn, something shifted. Flashy Dancer began to make her move, gaining ground with an impressive burst of speed. By the time they hit the quarter pole, she was a contender. But the favorite, Bob Baffert’s Miss Rockette, was already making a strong bid for victory.
Miss Rockette, bought for a cool $1.25 million as a yearling, seemed to have the race in the bag. She led by three lengths at one point, looking unbeatable. But Flashy Dancer? She was just getting started.
In a twist that had the spectators on the edge of their seats, Flashy Dancer found another gear. Miss Rockette started to falter, and Flashy Dancer seized the moment. She flew past to win by 1 1/4 lengths, leaving the crowd in awe.
It wasn’t her first rodeo, though. Flashy Dancer had shown promise before, despite a challenging debut in the mud at Oaklawn on March 9. She was the favorite then but finished second after a rough start.
Her pedigree speaks volumes. She’s a half-sister to last year’s GIII Withers S. winner, Hit Show. And she’s now the 26th ‘Rising Star’ for her sire, Curlin. The combination of Curlin and Tapit, her grandsire, has produced champions before, including 2023 Horse of the Year, Cody’s Wish.
Her dam, Actress, isn’t just any mare. She clinched the 2017 GII Black-Eyed Susan S. and has another promising 2-year-old filly by Medaglia d’Oro. Plus, there’s exciting news: Actress was bred to Justify for a 2024 foal.
The race details? It was the 7th at Oaklawn, a $115,000 Maiden Special Weight for 3-year-old fillies over 1 1/16 miles. Flashy Dancer finished in 1:45.85 on a track rated good, winning by 1 1/4 lengths. Her record now stands at 2-1-1-0, with earnings of $92,000.
And then there’s the tweet from TVG, capturing the moment Flashy Dancer and jockey Florent Geroux crossed the finish line. It was a victory that not only showcased her talent but also hinted at her potential for greatness. The late Pick 5 was up next, but that moment? It was all about Flashy Dancer’s dazzling performance.
