Dance Quietly, the first starter from the Evans stable since his death on Dec. 31, rallied through a huge opening along the rail in the stretch and was able to outfinish Moonlit Malibu to win Saturday’s $65,000 Busanda Stakes by 1 3/4 lengths at Aqueduct.
Dance Quietly, trained by Todd Pletcher, ran under the banner of the Edward P. Evans Foundation formed shortly after Evans’s death. She was owned and bred by Evans and is a half-sister to 2005 Horse of the Year Saint Liam.
Dance Quietly ($5.40) was ridden by Ramon Dominguez. She raced an up-close fourth along the rail, was resenting dirt being kicked back in her face. Queen’s Harbor was setting the pace, being chased by Moonlit Malibu and Abba Dabbler.
Dance Quietly moved to the lead outside the eighth pole and outfinished a laboring Moonlit Malibu in the final furlong. Dance Quietly covered the mile and 70 yards in 1:45.05 and returned $5.40 as the 8-5 favorite.
It was the second straight win for Dance Quietly, who broke her maiden in her third career start at Monmouth Park in November. Seventh in her debut at Saratoga Race Course in August, the gray filly next finished second to Joyful Victory at Delaware Park at the Busanda distance.
“She wasn’t too happy with the combination of the kickback and being [inside],’’ Dominguez said. “I was very pleased that she kept on coming even though it didn’t look good at the five sixteenths. When the rail opened up it was very helpful and she got through, but I feel like she was looking around so I think there’s room for improvement.’’
Jonathan Thomas, the assistant to Pletcher, noted that the win was special in light of Evans’s death, “She’s obviously a talented horse with a bright future. For obvious reasons, it is a special win for us, and I’m sure for the whole team at the farm. She’s just one example of the great job Mr. Evans has done as a breeder. We are going to miss him.”
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