With a name that could elicit thoughts of Game of Thrones, Miss Dracarys knew how to grab attention on the King’s Plate undercard.
One of two contestants in the Dance Smartly Stakes (G2T) to hail from the United States, the 5-year-old mare by Malibu Moon, crossed over the northern border and went gate to wire to capture the CA$200,000 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares at Woodbine. Miss Dracarys stopped the clock in 1:39.60
The win—Miss Dracarys’ third straight dating back to last year—sent a raven that she may be on an upswing in claiming her first graded stakes win of her career.
The Dance Smartly was her first race since winning the Forever Together last November at Aqueduct.
I thought she ran well,” said trainer Neil Drysdale. “She trained up to the race very well. I think she’s improved as a 5-year-old. … And we’re looking for more.”
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Miss Dracarys jumped out of the gate and immediately took the lead and gave the other six challengers something to think about. She set the pace with fractional times of :24.07, 47.91, and 1:11.02.
Even after Miss Dracarys took the lead, there was a sense that eventually Moira , the favorite, would make her move and add to her already gaudy resume. That resume includes winning last year’s Sovereign Award for Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old filly.
Moira tracked the leaders throughout before going three-wide after the turn to challenge Miss Dracarys and Salimah .
Approaching the final furlong, the stage was set for Moira, who left the gate the 1-1 favorite. But she couldn’t close the deal and Miss Dracarys (4-1) held on for a one-length win.
Ready Lady finished third. Salimah faded to sixth. A CA$2 win ticket paid CA$10.70.
Drysdale said he does not know what is next for his trainee, but he likes what he sees.
“She was improving at the end of last year. She was given a rest. The good thing is she’s come back well, maybe better,” he said.
Miss Dracarys is owned by Al Shira’aa Farms and bred in Kentucky by Castelton Lyons and Kilboy Estate.
She was purchased by Shawn Dugan, agent, for $525,000 out of the Paramount Sales consignment at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Miss Dracarys is out of the Speightstown mare Ask Me When, who has nine foals, seven starters, and five winners. Miss Dracarys is a full sister to Aristocratic , who finished third in the 2017 Lazaro Barrea Stakes (G3).
Miss Dracarys is now 5-2-1 from 13 career starts with $370,728 in earnings.
Moira, after winning the Queen’s Plate Stakes last year, has been defeated in five straight, all graded stakes, including finishing second the last three times out.
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