Union Jackson 1st-Crop 2YO Filly Our Tiny Dancer Breaks Maiden by 8 in 2-Turn Delaware Park Mile

By Rab Hagin

Leading northeastern first-crop sire UNION JACKSON had his first winner when his late-April-foaled juvenile daughter, OUR TINY DANCER, romped by eight lengths under a hand ride in her two-turn debut, beating six from the outside post going a sloppy track Delaware Park mile on Thursday, September 9. Owned by John L. Moirano, who had purchased her at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic’s May sale of 2-year-olds, and raced in partnership with Pines Stables, John C. Irwin, and Salle P Thoroughbred Racing, the quick-striding filly led by daylight at all calls. She was the youngest filly in the contest, and her six rivals included a daughter of a two-time leading North American sire.

Bred by Larry Botting, Our Tiny Dancer had placed on Belmont Park turf in her career debut, a $75,000 maiden special at five furlongs on July 5, beaten less than two lengths by the favored winner (currently competing in open stakes company). She is the first now-living offspring produced from Dance I Can, who won 11 races at Finger Lakes but did not race at 2 nor win at 3, breaking her maiden in her eighth start in late summer of her 4-year-old season. Multiple sprint stakes winner and graded-placed Union Jackson is arguably the fastest son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, who is the leading sire of 2021 graded winners (12, all in North America) and Grade 1 winners (four). Union Jackson’s dam is Grade 1 winner Hot Dixie Chick, whose Grade 1 or Grade 2-winning half-siblings include Kentucky-and-Florida Derby winner Always Dreaming.