Thursday Racing Insights: Mandy Pope Starts Pair At Oaklawn

[Wandering Eyes]

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

4th-OP, $90K, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 1 1/16m, 3:33 p.m.

Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm debuts two maidens Thursday at Oaklawn Park. The first, DANCE IT, is a 3-year-old daughter of leading sire Tapit purchased for $500k from the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale making her career debut. Out of the unraced Forestry mare Redwood Dancer, herself from the extended family of champion 2-year-old Flanders (Seeking the Gold) and MGIW Air Force Blue (War Front), Dance It is a half-sister to GIP and SW The Virginian (Aus), along with three other winners from as many to race. She makes her first start here going two-turns after a consistent work log at the Fair Grounds, including a five-furlong drill from the gate in :59 3/5 Mar. 9. Dance It gets Lasix for her first start, and jockey Joel Rosario picks up the ride for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Making her third career start for Whisper Hill is GOLDENA, the 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro who brought $300k at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. While she has an age and experience advantage over her stablemate, Goldena will need to move forward from her first two starts, a disappointing tenth going six-furlongs Jan. 7 and a distant seventh Feb. 13 at 1 1/16 mile, both at Oaklawn. Her works have notably picked up in intensity since her most recent start including a five-furlong work Mar. 21 in 1:00, the fastest of 12 at the distance. Goldena also worked four-furlongs in :48 1/5 Feb. 28 to post the quickest time of 63. She adds blinkers Thursday for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. TJCIS PPs

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