SECOND MATE TAKES THE SOLDIER'S DANCER

The third of the FHBPA’s Stake Series is in the books, as Second Mate, owned and trained by Mike Maker, rolled home 1 ¼ lengths ahead of the field in the Soldier’s Dancer.

Looking back, the David Vivian-trained millionaire gelding, Soldier’s Dancer (Lost Soldier out of a Gate Dancer mare), was a champion Florida bred through the mid 2000s, posting a 12-8-4 record in 33 lifetime starts.
He posted a win in his first start, a 32k claiming event on the dirt in June of 2006, and ran 3 additional dirt efforts before switching to the turf. It was this switch to the weeds that propelled Soldier’s Dancer on to a stellar 10 stakes winning career.
These successes included such top races as the Appleton, Calder Derby, Sophomore Turf Stakes, Tropical Park Derby, and the Miami Mile. Retired in 2010 with career earnings of $1,524,780, Soldier’s Dancer has certainly left his mark in the history books for South Florida racing.
Next up in the series will be the Ginger Punch on Saturday June 15.