When Dancing Forever became a Grade 1 winner in the Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap on June 7, naturally the Phipps family and his Hall of Fame trainer, Shug McGaughey, were delighted. But perhaps no one was more tickled than a group of little-known horse people in Kentucky who played a special role in his life.

The story began in 2000, when his dam, Dancinginmydreams, a full sister to Heavenly Prize who seemed on her way to becoming another of the Phipps’ fabulous fillies, sustained a fractured right hind pastern in the Frizette. The daughter of Seeking the Gold was taken to the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, where she remained for 13 months, undergoing several surgeries and a bone graft before being transferred to the Rood and Riddle Equine Center in Kentucky.

When the royally-bred filly was well enough to be released, it was suggested by Dr. Larry Bramlage she not be sent to Claiborne Farm, where most of the Phipss’ broodmares live, but to a small facility near Lexington that catered to special needs horses -- the Caddel Equine Therapy Center.

“We specialize in taking care of post-surgical horses,’ said Linda Caddel, who owns the farm with her husband, Steve. “When she came to us, we were concerned with the loss of bone density -- we began by walking her once a day, then increased that until she was walking 20 minutes twice a day. She was so sensible about everything.”

One of 12 high-maintenance broodmares on the farm, Dancinginmydreams was able within a few months to be outside on her own in a small, round pen, followed by a paddock, and then a 15-acre field. The following spring, she was cleared to be bred to Rahy, and on February 17, 2003, there was much rejoicing as she produced her first foal -- Dancing Forever.

The chestnut colt, strapping like his mother, took some time to develop, but began his turnaround with a stakes victory at Calder in December, followed by a close second to Einstein in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf and a big victory in the Grade 2 Elkhorn at Keeneland, which the Caddels attended. He is being pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Turf, said McGaughey, and could start in the Grade 1 Grade 1 Man o’War at Belmont Park on July 12.

“Here she’s produced this wonderful colt who’s racing as a five-year-old,” marveled Caddel. “It’s hard to believe she’s now 10 years old herself.”

Aside from a permanently enlarged right fetlock, said Caddel, to watch her in the field with the other broodmares and a beautiful Ghostzapper filly at her side, you would not know there’s anything different about Dancinginmydreams. She is not maintenance-free -- she gets physical therapy almost daily, is hand-walked twice a day, and monitored for circulatory problems, but overall, leads a “pretty normal” life.

“It’s wonderful to be part of this amazing team,” said Caddel. “The Phipps and Shug are so genuinely interested in the one horse of theirs we have. There’s never any question -- if it’s for her own good, we have carte blanche.”

In addition to Dancing Forever and her new foal, Dancinginmydreams has produced a promising 2-year-old El Prado filly named Castanet, a War Chant yearling named Step Lively, and an unraced 4-year-old Forest Wildcat filly named Remember, who is part of Claiborne’s broodmare band.

“Dancinginmydreams is just pure class and her foals are the same,” said Caddel. “She’s royally-bred, but she doesn’t hold it over anyone. I’m so glad to know her. She’s my star.”