September 11, 2023
By Woodbine Communications/ Chris Lomon
TORONTO – In other stakes action Sunday, Sacred Dancer, at 14-1, took the $100,000 Zadracarta, a five-furlong inner turf sprint for Ontario-bred fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up.
Ridden by Sahin Civaci, the 4-year-old daughter of Giant Gizmo-Classic Soul notched her first stakes victory courtesy of a head win in a time of :56.62 over “firm” ground. Hard Edge was second, Breathing Fire was third and Zana finished fourth.
Trained by Don Pleterski for owner Kata Pleterski, Sacred Dancer, who was contesting her third stakes race (fifth in last year’s Thunder Bay and tenth in this year’s Ballade), boosted her career record to 4-5-2 from 19 starts.
It was also the first career stakes win for both Don and Kata Pleterski.
“The first one is always the sweetest one,” said Don. “We pointed her to this race for the last month and a half. It was either this or a race next week. She’s been running good enough, so we’ll give her a chance. And here we are.”
Bred by Joey Gee Thoroughbreds, the dark bay launched her career with a pair of seconds in November 2021. She broke her maiden in her eighth start, a four-length triumph at 5 ½ furlongs on the Woodbine Tapeta.
Sacred Dancer paid $31.10 for the win.
Sacred Dancer and jockey Sahin Civaci winning the Zadracarta Stakes on September 10, 2023 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo).
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