Dancing Rags smartly holds off Daddys Lil Darling in Alcibiades

Chadds Ford Stable’s Dancing Rags swept past pace-setting Caroline Test at the top of the stretch and had more than enough left to hold off a late bid from Daddys Lil Darling to win the 65th running of the $400,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1) for 2-year-old fillies by a length before a Fall Meet record Friday opening-day crowd of 19,882.

Caroline Test rolled to an uncontested lead under Jose Ortiz in the Darley Alcibiades and led the field of 14 through fractions of :23.72, :47.43 and 1:11.82. Cruz had Dancing Rags running third through the early stages before going after the leader on the far turn. Dancing Rags completed the 1 1/16 miles on a fast main track in 1:44.69.

The win in the Darley Alcibiades marked the second victory in three starts for Dancing Rags, a Maryland-bred daughter of Union Rags purchased at Keeneland’s 2015 September Yearling Sale. The $240,000 winner’s share boosted her earnings to $275,360.

Dancing Rags returned $26.60, $10.60 and $7.40. Daddys Lil Darling, ridden by Corey Lanerie, returned $6.20 and $4.60 with Fun finishing two lengths back in third under Brian Hernandez Jr., and returning $6.40 to show.

Caroline Test was another three-quarters of a length back in fourth and was followed in order by Dream Dancing, For Honor, Benner Island, Queen Bernardina, I’mluckysgirl, favored Diadura, Sully’s Dream, Price too High, Cold Hearted Pearl and Lady Hansen.

Source: Keeneland Association