It hasn’t taken long for The Bird Dance to catch on in trainer Antonia Storer’s stable.
A 10-year-old New Zealand-bred pacer, The Bird Dance N arrived in Ohio at the beginning of the year and has posted two wins and a second in three starts for Storer at Miami Valley Raceway. The gelding’s most recent score was in the $51,429 Open on Jan. 26, and he will return to that class on Sunday, Feb. 2 to hoof it against seven rivals.
“He’s been an easy favourite since we got him,” said Storer. “He’s got so much character. He just kind of knows he’s the boss. He’s an absolute gentleman all the time, but he wants everyone to know that he’s not to be messed with, like, ‘I’m on top of the pecking order.’ He’s very full of himself, but also very respectful.
“It’s really nice to have him and work with him. He’s been a great addition. It’s very hard not to like him.”
The Bird Dance N, a son of A Rocknroll Dance-This Bird Has Flown, won 17 of 31 races Down Under before moving to the U.S. in the middle of 2021. Since then, he has posted 24 victories, 15 seconds and five thirds in 81 starts. Lifetime, he has earned $386,319.
Acquired by owners Friendship Stables this past August, The Bird Dance N raced most recently at MGM Yonkers Raceway and Harrah’s Philadelphia prior to heading to Ohio. Over the course of his career, the well-traveled pacer won races in Maine, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania before adding the Buckeye State to the list this year.
The Bird Dance N notched his first Miami Valley win in a conditioned race on Jan. 12, then finished second in the Open II a week later. His triumph in the Open last time out was the most lucrative payday of his career. He won by three-quarters of a length in 1:51.2 with Trevor Smith in the sulky. Only eight pacers have won with a quicker time this season on a five-eighths-mile track.
“It was a great night,” said Storer. “He got a great trip. He’s just sharp, and he knows it. It was wonderful.
“I knew [when he arrived] that he was a good old class horse, and we would find somewhere for him. I didn’t know he would be in the Open. He’s definitely surprised us, but what a great surprise.”
What makes The Bird Dance N even more enjoyable is watching the joy the horse brings to his work on a regular basis.
“We pony a lot of horses, and he ponies,” said Storer. “He doesn’t get hooked except for when he’s training. He loves ponying. He’s messing around with everybody the whole time out there. He’s got his ears up, looking around, and just loving it. It’s just him purely enjoying his job.”
The same is true when it’s showtime.
“I love watching him race,” said Storer. “His ears are up, he has no overcheck. He’s very handy. He’s great off the car, so that’s going to get him in great position here, which helps him. If you watch him come back to the winner’s circle, he’s throwing his head and skipping along. We put a tail-tie on him because the first time he raced it looked like he was flossing the driver’s teeth with his tail. He’s all business, but he’s enjoying it. He’s having fun.”
On Sunday, The Bird Dance N will leave from post four with Smith again in the bike. He is 5-1 on the morning line. Better B Bold, who was second in the Open on Jan. 19 in his last start, is the 3-1 favourite for trainer Todd Luther and driver Jeremy Smith.
“It’s a mental game for him,” Storer said about The Bird Dance N. “He knows he’s doing well and he’s feeling good. We’ll see if we can have a repeat [of his last start] on Sunday. That would be wonderful.”
Racing begins at 4 p.m. on Sunday at Miami Valley Raceway.
(USTA)