Midshipman’s Dance, making her sophomore debut – and just second career start – displayed a wealth of maturity when holding off the late-closing Tanya Showers to earn a half-length victory the $150,000 Mockingbird Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, 13 January.
The three-year-old Midshipman filly made her career debut in December at Oaklawn, rallying to take a six-furlong maiden special weight contest over a muddy main track. Racing on a fast surface this day, Midshipman’s Dance was settled in fifth as she hugged the inside rail, content to let Sharp Tune and Xtreme Smoke Show (both by Frosted) set a swift early pace.
Midshipman’s Dance continued to save ground into the far turn, continuing to 'scrape paint' as she closed in on the leaders. At the top of the stretch, she was asked for more and responded, shooting past the frontrunners to take the lead. Midshipman’s Dance was able to hold off a late challenge from Tanya Showers to get the victory. Sharp Tune held on to claim third.
Bred in Kentucky by Woods Edge Farm LLC, Midshipman’s Dance is out of Remington Park Oaks winner, Sticks Wondergirl, and hails from the immediate family of Graded Stakes winner Ice Dancing (Frosted), and Graded Stakes-placed Dance for Vanny, Fredericksburg, Goliad and Line Dancing.
Midshipman has the distinction of being the only stallion with multiple juvenile Stakes winners at Saratoga in 2023 – two-time Stakes winner, Amidst Waves, and Ship Cadet, winner of the Listed Skidmore College Stakes.
Midshipman will be standing at Jonabell Farm for $15,000, stands and nurses, for 2024.
