Malibu Moon filly scores stylish first stakes win

Come Dancing made her first route race look easy with a six-length win in the $100,000 Royal Delta S. Sunday at Belmont Park.

The 4-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon, who had never been beyond seven furlongs, was especially strong in the stretch of the 1 1/16-mile affair, drawing off in style after setting all the fractions. She was geared down late under John Velazquez after the conclusion was a certainty.

“She liked (the distance). She did it pretty easy. There wasn’t much speed in the race, so that helped relax her the first part of the race,” Velazquez said. “She was galloping along in a very comfortable stride. After that, it was pretty easy.”

“We’re going to nominate to everything and look at all the options,” added trainer Carlos Martin. “I think this opens up a lot of dimensions. She made an easy lead, but she’s always been kind and rated in her races before, so I think she’s going to be a dangerous horse going forward.”

Owned by her breeder Blue Devil Racing Stable, Come Dancing has now won four of six starts and earned $188,200. Her dam Tizahit won the Demoiselle S. (G2) at two.

Malibu Moon now has 10 black type winners and 27 stakes horses overall this year, with progeny earnings approaching $7.3 million to date for the perennial top-10 sire.