Gold Rush Dancer by 4 3/4 lengths in the Longacres Mile

 GOLD RUSH DANCER STRIKES GOLD IN LONGACRES MILE

AUBURN, Wash. (August 13, 2017) – Returning to the track where his career began two years ago, Gold Rush Dancer raced to a dominant 4 ¾-length victory Sunday in the 82nd running of the $200,000 Longacres Mile (G3) at Emerald Downs.

Ridden by 19-year-old Evin Roman, Gold Rush Dancer ran one mile in 1:33.85 under 120 lbs and returned $8.40, $4.20 and $3.80. Vann Belvoir is the winning trainer for owner/breeder John Parker of Lakebay, Wash.

A 4-year-old California-bred colt by Private Gold-Dances On Water, Gold Rush Dancer earned $110,000 to push his bankroll to $510,613. His record is 6-3-3 in 18 starts including five stakes wins—three vs. state-breds in California and the Longacres Mile and Gottstein Futurity at Emerald Downs.

Mach One Rules, ridden by Isaias Enriquez at high-weight of 123 lbs, rallied from sixth to edge Dedicated to You for second by a head and paid $4.40 and $3.60. Winner of the Budweiser and Mt. Rainier Stakes, Mach One Rules was favored by a scant $77 over Gold Rush Dancer in the wagering—$42,648 to $42,571—and earned $40,000 Sunday for owner R.E.V Racing.

Dedicated to You, with Leonel Camacho-Flores riding at 117 lbs, held on well for third at odds 0f 82-1 and paid $16.20 to show, while Barkley turned in another solid effort for fourth. Point Piper, the defending champion, finished fifth, and 2014-15 Mile winner Stryker Phd closed ground to finish sixth.

Seattle Serenade, third choice at 5-1, surprisingly showed no speed and finished seventh, while Papa Frank, Chief of Staff, Bistraya, Togrammashousewego and Black Sona completed the order of finish.

Vann Belvoir (left), Gold Rush Dancer & Evin Roman

Belvoir becomes the first person to win the Longacres Mile as both a jockey and trainer, and Sunday’s victory was never in doubt. Tracking Dedicated to You through fractions of :22.86, and :45.81, Gold Rush Dancer took command a half-mile from home, opened a three-length lead on the turn and poured it on through the stretch.

“When he broke well and was in a good position going into the first turn I thought he had a good chance,”  said Roman, a native of Puerto Rico and current leading rider at Del Mar. “When we started going down the backstretch I had a lot of horse. When we hit the half-mile pole I knew he was the winner. “

Belvoir said the Mile victory culminated a plan that began last winter.

“This was our goal for a long time,” he said. “(Gold Rush Dancer) had no issues but we gave him a break. This was his third start back and he ran his best race.”

John Parker

For Parker, leading owner the last two years at Emerald Downs, winning The Mile is a great thrill.

“My horse has been awesome, and Vann has done a great job with him the last two years,” Parker said. “It was awesome to have the horse come back home to win the big race.”

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