Woodbine Entertainment will continue its partnership with 1/ST Racing by designating the Dance Smartly Stakes (G2) as a qualifying race for the 2027 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational Stakes (G2), giving the winner a direct opportunity to secure a place in one of the major turf events on the North American calendar.
The $200,000 Dance Smartly Stakes will take place at Woodbine Racetrack on Saturday, October 3, with the winner receiving an automatic invitation to the 2027 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. The arrangement will add an international dimension to an important fixture on Woodbine’s turf programme while providing the successful mare with a guaranteed pathway towards the prestigious Gulfstream contest.
The 2026 renewal will also mark the return of the race to Woodbine’s renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course. The contest will be run over 1 1/16 miles, restoring the race to its established turf setting following last year’s temporary move to the Inner Turf Course.
Dance Smartly Stakes Will Return to E.P. Taylor Turf Course
The return to the E.P. Taylor Turf Course will provide an important backdrop for this year’s Grade 2 contest. The course underwent a year-long restoration, which meant that the 2025 edition was conducted on the Inner Turf Course. Its return will bring the Dance Smartly Stakes back to the surface associated with some of Woodbine’s most significant turf races.
Last year’s winner, Qatar Racing’s Breath Away (GB), trained by Miguel Clement and ridden by Oisin Murphy, secured the Dance Smartly Stakes before earning the automatic invitation connected with the Pegasus World Cup pathway. Her victory demonstrated the international reach of the arrangement and underlined the potential significance of the Woodbine race for connections seeking opportunities on a larger stage.
Woodbine’s decision to retain the qualifying status in 2026 will therefore give this year’s field an additional objective beyond the Grade 2 prize itself. The successful mare will not simply leave Woodbine with a notable stakes victory; she will also gain an assured invitation to compete for the 2027 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
Tim Lawson, Vice President of Thoroughbred Racing at Woodbine, said the continuation of the partnership would add another layer of interest to the autumn turf programme. He described the Dance Smartly Stakes as one of the highlights of Woodbine’s turf season and noted that its connection with the Pegasus World Cup would create an intriguing pathway for the eventual winner.
The Pegasus World Cup made its debut in 2017 as part of 1/ST Racing’s effort to bring renewed energy and a modern identity to Thoroughbred racing while creating opportunities for leading horses to compete in prominent international events. The Filly & Mare Turf division has since provided an important platform for high-class female turf performers.
Aidan Butler, President of 1/ST, will also welcome the continuation of the partnership after the 2025 arrangement brought international attention to the Woodbine contest. The 2026 renewal will again connect the Toronto track with Gulfstream Park, creating a route between two significant venues on the North American racing calendar.
The October 3 programme will carry additional significance because the Dance Smartly Stakes will form part of a major Woodbine card headed by the $750,000 Canadian International (G1). The combination will make the meeting one of the notable fixtures of the autumn season, with the Grade 2 turf contest providing an important opportunity for mares with ambitions beyond Canada.
For trainers and owners, the automatic invitation will offer a clear incentive to target the race with a mare capable of competing at the highest level on turf. The 1 1/16-mile distance will demand tactical speed and sustained finishing ability, while the return to the E.P. Taylor Turf Course will bring the distinctive characteristics of Woodbine’s established turf layout back into the equation.
The 2027 Pegasus World Cup is scheduled for January at Gulfstream Park, meaning the October result will give the winner several months to prepare for the Florida assignment. That extended interval could allow connections to map out a suitable campaign while keeping the mare on course for an appearance against an international field.
With its Grade 2 status, restored turf setting and direct link to Gulfstream Park, the Dance Smartly Stakes will carry considerable importance when Woodbine’s autumn programme unfolds on October 3.
The Dance Smartly Stakes will return to Woodbine’s E.P. Taylor Turf Course on October 3, with the $200,000 Grade 2 winner earning an automatic invitation to the 2027 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Gulfstream Park.
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