Dancing Buck. (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)
NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – J and N Stables and Diamond M Stable’s New York-bred Dancing Buck found his groove on the front end under Luis Rivera, Jr. in Saturday’s Listed $150,000 Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship, a six-furlong outer turf sprint for 3-year-olds and up, at Belmont at the Big A.
Trained by Michelle Nevin, the 7-year-old War Dancer gelding wheeled back quickly from a 2 1/4-length fourth in the state-bred New York Turf Sprint Championship on October 25 here to earn his first win in his fourth start this year. Dancing Buck had plenty of back class, including wins in the local Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint in 2022 and last year’s Listed Elusive Quality.
“It’s so great. He’s an older horse now and he’s been so much fun for everybody,” Nevin said. “It’s nice to see him back in the winner’s circle. He broke so sharp and him and Luis get along well – he did a great job.”
Dancing Buck broke alertly from post 6 and overtook the sharp-starting Knockanara to grab the lead while taking pressure from Outlaw Kid through the opening quarter-mile in 23.25 seconds on the firm turf.
“I was a little bit worried about the speed in the race, but I know my horse has a lot of speed,” Rivera, Jr. said. “He likes the soft turf – it’s been raining a lot lately – so, I said, ‘let’s just go the lead.’ He managed to keep it up until the end.”
@MaggieWolfndale interviews trainer @nevinracing after her win in the Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship with DANCING BUCK. pic.twitter.com/av7ISpGeBl
— NYRA () (@TheNYRA) November 1, 2025
Dancing Buck was tracked by Outlaw Kid in the turn with Knockanara saving ground in behind while Fierce and Strong improved along the rail through the half-mile in 46.30. At the stretch call, Dancing Buck fended off Outlaw Kid while Knockanara dove to the inside of that pair to launch his bid.
“At the quarter-pole, I could feel the horses coming to me, but he was in-hand and when I asked him, he was still there for me,” Rivera, Jr. said.
Dancing Buck defended his position from Knockanara who then tried again back to his outside as Fierce and Strong closed along the rail under Jaime Rodriguez. With rivals gaining headway on each side of him, Dancing Buck remained game on the lead en route to a half-length victory in a final time of 1:09.45.
Fierce and Strong finished second by a nose over Knockanara, with Outlaw Kid completing the superfecta. Incinerator, Niagara Skyline and Big Everest rounded out the order of finish.
Nothing Better, cross-entered in a local optional claimer on Sunday, was scratched, along with main track-only entrants Damon’s Mound, Gatsby, Bouncer, Over and Ollie and Barksdale.
Rivera, Jr., who launched his career in 2023, was pleased to get his second stakes win of the year.
New York-bred DANCING BUCK wins the Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship Stakes under @jockeylriverajr for trainer @nevinracing. pic.twitter.com/G6Od944yMN
— NYRA () (@TheNYRA) November 1, 2025
“I lost my bug a year and a half ago and my career has been really steady,” Rivera, Jr. said. “I think getting into new barns will help me get to the next level and winning a stakes for Michelle will open a lot of doors for me.”
Bred in the Empire State by co-owners J and N Stables, Dancing Buck, out of the multiple stakes-placed Catienus mare Frivolous Buck, banked $82,500 in victory while improving his record to 26-8-5-1 and returning $11.70 for a $2 win bet.
Live racing resumes Sunday with an 11-race card to close out the Belmont at the Big A fall meet, featuring the Listed Turnback the Alarm in Race 1, the Grade 3 Forty Niner in Race 4, the Grade 2 Red Smith in Race 7 and the Grade 3 Bold Ruler in Race 9. First post is 11:35 a.m. Eastern.
