Jake Ballis silks

Join in the Dance

Sky Mesa--Dance Darling, by Devil's Bag

Race History

Graded Earnings: $90,000Race Record: 9-1-3-1

  1. 7th // Kentucky Derby (Churchill Downs)

    05.02.09 Kentucky Derby 135 chart  |  Recap  |  Video

  2. 5th // Blue Grass (Keeneland)

    04.11.09 Blue Grass chart  |  Recap  |  Video

  3. 2nd // Tampa Bay Derby (Tampa Bay Downs)

    03.14.09 Tampa Bay Derby chart  |  Recap  |  Video

  4. 3rd // Allowance (Gulfstream Park)

    02.14.09 Join in the Dance allowance
More Races ›

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Join in the Dance

Daily Works Board

DateTrack (Condition)DistanceTime (How)Rank
04.27Churchill Downs (ft)5 furlongs1:00.20 B5/26
04.06Keeneland (ft)4 furlongs:49.60 B33/45
03.28Palm Meadows (ft)5 furlongs1:01 H7/42
03.08Palm Meadows (ft)5 furlongs1:02.40 B13/19
03.01Palm Meadows (ft)5 furlongs:59.80 H1/37
02.08Palm Meadows (ft)5 furlongs1:03.20 B29/36
02.01Palm Meadows (ft)5 furlongs1:00 H2/38
01.25Palm Meadows (ft)5 furlongs1:01.40 H15/40
01.14Palm Meadows (ft)5 furlongs1:01.40 H5/19
01.07Palm Meadows (ft)4 furlongs:50.80 B25/38

Pedigree

Like General Quarters, Join in the Dance will try to exorcise three generations' worth of Kentucky Derby (G1) demons that have bedeviled his sire Sky Mesa, grandsire Pulpit and great-grandsire A.P. Indy. Pulpit was the only one of the three who actually ran for the roses, finishing fourth in 1997 and exiting the race with a bone chip. While A.P. Indy was scratched on the morning of the 1992 classic, Sky Mesa's hopes were abandoned because of a nagging foot bruise in mid-March of 2003.
Full Pedigree ›

Starter Analysis

Todd Pletcher's third entrant owns just one win to date, but Join in the Dance finished second in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and a decent fifth in the Blue Grass S. (G1). The Kentucky-bred has excellent early speed and should be prominently placed in the 20-horse contingent, but speed drew both to his inside and outside from the nine post.
Full Analysis ›

Connections

Todd Pletcher

Todd Pletcher

A native of Dallas, Texas, Todd Pletcher grew up around horses as his father, J.J. Pletcher, trained Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds. Two weeks after graduating from the University of Arizona with a degree in animal science, he went to work for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. He stayed with Lukas for six years, eventually becoming his main East Coast assistant trainer. // Full Bio ›

Chris DeCarlo

Chris DeCarlo

Chris DeCarlo began his career as a rider when Hall of Famer Angel Cordero put him on a horse at age 4 and promised him a career as a jockey if didn't get too big. He took riding lessons until he was 15, then moved in with Cordero in New York where he started galloping horses for Allen Jerkens. DeCarlo won aboard his first mount, Romeo's Mistress, on May 3, 1985, in New York. // Full Bio ›

Jake Ballis, Rashard Lewis, Reagan Swinbank, Reed Ballis & William Swinbank

Join in the Dance is owned by Orlando Magic forward Rashard Lewis, in partnership with brothers Jake and Reed Ballis and Reagan and William Swinbank, all of Houston. The Ballis’ father raced Texas-bred champion sprinter Groovy and Grade 1 winner Cutlass Reality. // Full Bio ›

The Answer LLC

The Answer LLC bred Join in the Dance in Kentucky. The colt RNA'ed for $130,000 at the 2007 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and for $90,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Calder February Sale. // Full Bio ›

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