BLAME added a new stakes winner to his resume on Thursday when Dancing Kiki put on a solo performance in the Saratoga Dew Handicap.
The Michael Dubb-owned filly struck the lead right out of the gate in the 1 1/8 mile dirt race to have a length on Grade 1 winner Simply Ravishing. Jose Ortiz let his mount go through the motions as she set the pace with a comfortable gallop until they entered the turn.
Dancing Kiki was confronted at that point but she easily repelled the two-horse challenge as they entered the final quarter. Ortiz had to do some maintenance work to keep his mount focused in the stretch but the Mike Maker trainee was an easy winner by 4 ½ lengths in the end.
“I knew I had speed, the only question was if she would handle the mile-and-an-eighth, and she did it nicely,” said Ortiz. “She had plenty left late in the last eighth of a mile, she was still running pretty decently.”
Bred by Dutchess Views Farm and SGO Thoroughbred, Dancing Kiki is one of four winners from five to race out of the stakes winner Justenufappeal. That mare is one of five stakes performers for the winning World Appeal mare Hasty Appeal, who is also the dam of Grade 3 winner Dr. Park and stakes winner Kelly Leak.
Also in Dancing Kiki’s family are Grade 1 winners I Ain’t Bluffing, Borrego, and Grade 2 winner Powerful Punch.
Justenufappeal also has a RUNHAPPY three-year-old gelding named Runback.
A top 10 sire by number of graded stakes performers last year, BLAME continues to sire top horses year after year with 16% stakes performers and 84% starters to foals.