NEWS
Hot Dixie Chick romps in season debut at Oaklawn
Posted: Saturday, March 20, 2010 8:42 PM
HOT DIXIE CHICK
Will Kenser / Coady Photography
To view the Prima Donna Stakes, click here.
by Ron Parker
Hot Dixie Chick, the 1-to-5 favorite, did not disappoint her supporters on Saturday as she drew away from five opponents under a hand ride by jockey Robby Albarado for a 5 ¾-length victory in the $60,000 Prima Donna Stakes at Oaklawn Park.
The Prima Donna was a sparkling return to the races for the Steve Asmussen-trained Hot Dixie Chick, who made her first start since winning the Spinaway Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course on September 6.
Cosmo Girl engaged Hot Dixie Chick early in a battle for the lead in the six-furlong race, which was contested on a track rated as wet fast. The duo sped through fractions of :21.47 and :44.90 through a half-mile.
Entering the stretch, it briefly appeared as though Cosmo Girl had softened up the favorite for the late runners, but Hot Dixie Chick accelerated when given her cue by Albarado and increased her margin with every stride through the final furlong, crossing the finish line in 1:10.82.
Biorra was second best, three lengths clear of Woman Soldier.
A three-year-old Dixie Union filly out of the Grade 3-winning In Excess (Ire) mare Above Perfection, Hot Dixie Chick has earned $321,685 with four wins and one second from five career starts.
Also on the Oaklawn card, Country Day relished the wet fast track, stalking the pace under jockey Joseph Hernandez Jr. before taking charge for a 1 ¼-length victory in the $60,000 Hot Springs Stakes. (video) Country Day covered six furlongs in 1:09.52.
Grade 2-placed winner Riley Tucker was unable to seriously threaten the winner in the stretch. He finished second, 2 ¼ lengths clear of multiple stakes winner Ez Dreamer.
Trained by Steve Margolis, Country Day made his second start in a stakes after finishing second in the Colonel Power Stakes at Fair Grounds on February 20. The Speightstown colt increased his earnings to $132,829 with four wins from nine career starts. He is out of the multiple Grade 3-winning Mt. Livermore mare Hidden Assets.
For Equibase charts, click here.
Ron Parker is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer
