Fierce Lady Offers Value in Compact Field in Dancin Renee

A field of six line up in Saturday’s Dancin Renee at Belmont Park. (Photo credit © George Zilberman | Dreamstime.com).

A field of six state bred fillies and mares will line up in Saturday’s feature at Belmont Park in the $100,000 Dancin Renee.

The six-furlong test drew an evenly matched group with the Rob Atras trained Sadie Lady the 2-1 morning line favorite. The mare has won 7 of 19 career starts and is coming off a runner up finish in the Vagrancy Handicap (G3) over the Belmont Park main track at 6 ½ furlongs on May 8.

Jose Ortiz has the call on the mare, her regular rider Kendrick Carmouche sidelined with a broken ankle.

The Anthony Margotta trained Good Credence is the 5-2 second choice on the morning line. The filly was a good second in the New York bred Critical Eye which was contested at a mile in the mud in her last outing on May 31.

I am looking for more value in this compact group. Fierce Lady (6-1) came off the bench running last out when making her first start since landing with trainer Brittany Russell. She beat state bred Alw-2 optional claimers here going six furlongs off the bench.

Only Three Graded Stakes in U.S. This Weekend

The Dancin Renee is the only stake race this weekend at Belmont Park and there are just three graded stakes in the U.S. this weekend—the $150,000 Mint Julep (G3) at Churchill Downs, the $150,000 Salvatore Mile (G3) at Monmouth Park and on Sunday at Santa Anita the $100,000 Affirmed (G3).

Things will heat up next week with the five-day Royal Ascot meeting getting underway on Tuesday. Over the five-day race meet there are four Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” races. Trainer Wesley Ward is sending out nine runners during the Royal Ascot meet, seven juveniles.

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Let’s head out to Belmont Park for Saturday’s featured race of the day:

Belmont Park

Belmont Park Race 8 The Dancin Renee 4:40 ET

1 Fierce Lady 6-1

3 Good Credence 5-2

5 Sadie Lady 2-1

6 Espresso Shot 7-2

Fierce Lady

This filly came back off a nearly a six-month layoff with a sharp win against state bred Alw-2 optional claimers, her first win since winning the state bred Seeking the Ante back in 2019. This gal came up short seven times last year, the last five while in the RRod barn. The time off and switch to the capable Russell barn seems to have this filly back on track. She owns a solid pace profile throughout and draws the rail. She should be sitting just off the pace or might even get to the lead with an alert break. The barn is 21% winners with runners making their second start off a 45–180-day break. She picks up Saez who was aboard her for a couple of starts last year. Her career best speed fig came in her debut over the main track here. She looks capable of moving forward second off the shelf and the 6-1 morning line looks fair enough.

Good Credence

The Margotta trainee came off a 5 ½ month layoff last out with a solid runner up finish in the state bred Critical Eye going a mile in the mud. She was nine lengths clear of the rest of the field in the effort. It was her first start since a fourth in the Rampart (G3) at Gulfstream Park going a mile. The winner Letruska has won three times since including a pair of Grade 1 races. The cut back to a sprint should suit this gal. Her last win came three back at seven furlongs where she beat state bred Alw-2 company over the main track here. The trainer is 24% winners (with a +ROI) with runners making their second start off a 45–180-day break.

Sadie Lady

The mare is back with New York breds after setting the early fractions and was unable to hold off the winner in a runner up finish in the Vagrancy ‘Cap (G3) going 6 ½ furlongs here. The winner Victim of Love was a disappointing fifth in the Bed of Roses (G3) in her next outing on June 4. The Atras trainee took the field gate to wire to win the Correction two back, holding on to win by a head in her first go off a three-month break. She makes her third start of her current form cycle and will appreciate the return to the state bred ranks, but the price is likely going to end up on the light side.