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Photo By: Benoit

Dance Daily (white cap) scores a nose victory over Talullah Lula in the January 16 Santa Ynez (GII)

Dance Daily, the unhearalded half of the D. Wayne Lukas trained entry, upset her stablemate Folklore, who wound up third, in the Monday's Santa Ynez (GII) at Santa Anita Park.

Folklore, the likely 2005 two-year-old filly champion off her juvenile campaign that saw her finish no worse than second in seven starts, culmunating with the Breeders' Cup (GI) victory, was making her first start since the Santa Ynez. She was keen right from the start, breaking on top but set a sensible pace through the first half mile of the seven furlong event, going 23 seconds for the first quarter and :46 for the half mile. Dance Daily followed her stablemate, tracking in second while never more than a length behind the leader. Jon Court, who was aboard the winner for the first time, made his move for the lead at the top of the stretch. He forged ahead about 1/8 mile from the wire. Folklore dug in, but could not hold off the winner. Meanwhile the Bob Baffert trained Talullah Lula made a nice move up the rail to draw even with Dance Daily. Those two exchanged the lead in deep stretch, with Dance Daily managing to get up by a nose at the wire. Folklore faded a bit late, winding up 3/4 of a length back in third. Lake Como finished fourth followed by My Little Monkey and Trick's Pic, who weakened late after a bobbling start.

Lukas commented about both his runners after the race. "In Folklore's defense, she was coming off a long layoff on three works and I think she got a little late right there at the end, but she'll be back. We'll build off this. I'm not too concerned."

Of Dance Daily, "All I can say is we kept it in the family," Lukas told HRTV. "Folklore is already a grade I winner and she'll go on to bigger and better things, so we're happy to get this one (Dance Daily) a stakes win. I supplemented her and it cost a little more ($3,000), but I thought she'd make a little bit of noise in the race and she did."

Folklore's rider, Edgar Prado, had a similar view. "(Folklore) didn't get tired," Prado said afterward. "She came home running, but she just got run down today. She did everything right. She was good on post parade. She went to the gate good. She did everything but win. The 123 pounds didn't help. We've got a race in her now, and there's better things ahead this year." Lost in the post race wrapup was the fact that Folklore has broke on top in three of her starts, and lost all three.

Dance Daily earned $90,000, which exceeded her total of $81,292 in eight previous races that included wins in a maiden and allowance race. She is owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis.

The entry paid $2.40, $2.10, and $2.10 while Tulullah Lula returned $2.10 and $2.10 to place. The $2 exacta was worth just $5.40.

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