(Photo by me)

Dance Marathon is Ipi's fifth foal, a bay colt by Medaglia d'Oro born May 20, 2011. I got to meet him in July 2011 after he had been cooped up for a week in his stall with Ipi while recovering from pneumonia. To say he was rambunctious and ecstatic to be outside is an understatement. This is the only photo I got of him with all four feet on the ground. Even the always kind and patient Ipi was getting tired of his youthful antics, but I suspect that's because he was interrupting the flow of mints I was providing.

In September 2012, Dance Marathon was offered during the Thursday session of the Keeneland September yearling sale. Bidding went to $140,000, but his reserve was not met. A few days later, he was purchased privately by Barry Irwin for Team Valor (who of course raced Ipi in Dubai and the USA). Barry named the colt Dance Marathon as an homage to the long dance sequences in the musical that inspired Ipi's name. The colt proved so popular with Team Valor's partners that he was syndicated in one afternoon.

Dance Marathon will be sent to Graham Motion as a two year-old.

Dance Marathon at Denali before the Keeneland Sale (Photo by Sara Skalley)

At the sale (Photo by Jessica Morgan)

Dance Marathon getting started under saddle in October 2012 (Photo courtesy of Barry Irwin)

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