Graham Motion
Motion was born in Cambridge, and raised in the village of Herringswell, Newmarket, England; attending school in England until 1981. Graham began his career at Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard's Stable. He worked there for six years. After this, he traveled to Chantilly, France to work for Breeders Cup winning trainer Jonathon Pease. After returning to America in 1990, Graham began his first experiences at the racetrack with well-known two-year-old trainer, Bernie P. Bond. Motion has been training on his own since 1993. He won his first Grade One race when Film Maker captured the Queen Elizabeth at Keeneland in 2003. Capped off 2004 with a win in the Breeders' Cup Turf (GI), when Better Talk Now upset heavy favorite Kitten's Joy.
Ramon Dominguez
Twenty-eight year old Ramon Dominguez, a native of Venezuela, began riding at age 16 in his home country. He moved to the United States in 1995, riding at Hialeah Park in Florida. He won 383 races in 2004, and carried with it a 28% victory rate. He also led the national standings in both 2001 and 2003, when he had 431 and 453 victories, respectively. This past year he scored his first Breeders' Cup victory aboard Better Talk Now in the Breeders' Cup Turf (GI). Dominguez has ridden one Derby starter, Tapit in 2004. He has won three riding titles in Maryland, where he currently resides, in 2001.
Pandora Farms LLC
Pandora Farm is owned by Lyn Merritt. Merritt was born in Spain while her father was stationed there in the Air Force. She was raised in Florida and has been involved in acting on stage and television, as well as commercials and movies. Her farm is named after her dog, and she and partner Leonard Pellulo became involved in racing just this past year. Pellulo is the racing manager, buying most of their horses through the auction ring. Their 20 plus broodmares are kept mostly in Pennsylvania, where Merritt also has a residence. In addition to Motion, they have horses with John Servis, Mike McCarthy and Rick Violette. Dance Away Capote is their first stakes winner.
Mt Brilliant Farm LLC
Mt. Brilliant Stable is owned by Greg Goodman, who has a farm in Lexington with the same name. Goodman, 50, is a resident of Houston and has been involved with horses for most of his life. His Houston-based Goodman Manufacturing Company is the world's largest privately owned manufacturer of residential heating and air conditioning units. Goodman bought Mt. Brilliant Farm in 1996 from the Haggin family. Used for cattle for most of the past century, Goodman reconfigured the 400 acres to a Thoroughbred facility. In 2003, he bought the adjacent 372 acres of Faraway Farm, the former home of Man o'War. Goodman currently houses about 25 broodmares. With Will Farish, he co-owned 2004 Derby hopeful Gradepoint, who was injured prior to last year's Blue Grass Stakes. He bred 2000 Derby 10th place finisher Deputy Warlock.
05.05.05 - Dance Away Capote Scratched From Oaks Due To Fever 05.04.05 - Wednesday Barn Notes 05.03.05 - Tuesday Barn Notes 05.02.05 - Monday Barn Notes 05.01.05 - Sunday Barn Notes 04.30.05 - Saturday Barn Notes 04.29.05 - Friday Barn Notes 04.28.05 - Thursday Barn Notes 03.28.05 - Dance Away Capote Rolls In Bourbonette BC 02.18.05 - Motion Hopes For Rain For Dance Away Capote
Minor Delaware stakes was an easy 12 length gallop
9.04.04
Sorority Stakes
2nd
Even effort, but could not get to winner
8.22.04
Maiden allowance @ Monmouth Park
1st
Debuted with a 1 3/4 length win at 5 1/2 furlongs
Recent Workouts
Date
Track
Distance
Time
Rank
4.28
Keeneland (fast)
5 furlongs
1:02.00 B
6/35
4.22
Keeneland (fast)
6 furlongs
1:16.20 B
1/2
3.18
Palm Meadows Turf (firm)
4 furlongs
:51.20 B
6/9
DANCE AWAY CAPOTE is a live longshot in the 131st running of the Kentucky Oaks and looks like the best candidate for straight win, place and show bets in a race where the favorite figures heavy and odds on. This filly has done little wrong in her brief career and her fifth in the BC Juvenile fillies last year is much better than it looks on paper when you factor in the trouble line. Trainer Graham Motion is becoming synonymous with big race upsets like the one he pulled on BC Day last year in the Turf with Better Talk Now, and he has a progressive filly here who ran a deceptively good race in the Bourbonette, which she won for fun. Picks up dominant rider John Velazquez and they figure in the neighborhood of 15-1. The top choice on value but it's clear that she'll need a big move forward to best Sis City. Still the only one whose odds will be higher than her actual chance of winning and that's what the betting part of the game is all about. Take her very seriously and use her on all tickets.
Dance Away Capote is by Capote, the champion two year old colt and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and Norfolk Stakes (G1) winner in 1986. Capote himself is one of the more impeccably bred horses of the late 20th century, being by Seattle Slew and out of broodmare of the year Too Bald, who, in addition to Capote, is the dam of multiple graded stakes winners Exceller and Vaguely Hidden and sires American Standard and Baldski. Capote himself has sired 52 stakes winners as of this writing, including the champions Boston Harbor, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner and two-year-old champ, Surfing Home, Horse of the Year in South Africa, Basim, champion two year old in Ireland, Capote Belle (Test Stakes (G1)), and Matty G (Hollywood Futurity (G1)).
Dance Away Capote is the latest of four foals of racing age from her dam Ingot's Dance Away. All four are winners, but the subject filly is the only stakes performer of the group. Ingot's Dance Away was winless in seven starts, however, she is a half-sister to Horse of the Year Skip Away, the second all-time leading money earner in North American racing. Ingot's Dance Away is a daughter of Gate Dancer, winner of the Preakness Stakes (GI) and the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs.
Dosage Index: 3.00
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