HOT DIXIE CHICK (Dixie Union) began the Saratoga meet with an eye-popping
score in the July 29 Schuylerville S. (G3), and on Sunday, the Steve Asmussen pupil looks to wrap up her meet the same way when she faces eight other juvenile
fillies in the 118th running of the $300,000
Spinaway S. (G1).
One of the premier events for juvenile fillies, the Spinaway has been won by
such champions as Maskette (1908), Top Flight (1931), Affectionately (1962),
Numbered Account (1971), Ruffian (1974), and Meadow Star (1990).
Owned by Barbara Banke’s Grace Stables, Hot Dixie Chick ran off to an
authoritative 6 1/4-length victory in the Schuylerville, covering the six
furlongs in 1:10.18 under Robby Albarado. The victory was her second straight
impressive score. In June, she set a track record for five furlongs at Churchill
Downs in her second start, pulling clear for a 5 3/4-length win in 56.48.
“Dixie has just been special from the beginning,” assistant trainer Scott
Blasi said. “She broke the track record at Churchill Downs and won here
authoritatively. She hasn’t missed a work, and we’re going into the race well
prepared with a fast horse.”
Although Hot Dixie Chick is somewhat precocious, having made her first start
on May 14, when she finished second over a sloppy track at Churchill, her
connections are thinking long-range with the dark bay.
“These horses are precocious, but you also look ahead,” Blasi said. “That’s
why we’ve spaced her races out. Their development is always in mind.”
Hot Dixie Chick, the 4-5 favorite on the morning line for the seven-furlong
Spinaway, will break from the rail with regular rider Albarado.
While Schuylerville runner-up BEAUTICIAN (Dehere) is the only filly to come
back from that race, the respective top three finishers from the August 19
Adirondack S. (G2) — WORSTCASESCENARIO (Forbidden Apple), SASSY IMAGE (Broken
Vow) and MAGIC APPEAL (Successful Appeal) — all look to step up Sunday.
Rick Violette, who trains Worstcasescenario, the 4-1 second choice, for
Klaravich Stables, has also entered Broadway Blue Stables’ OPUS A (Read the
Footnotes), who broke her maiden here against New York-breds on August 12.
“It’s a small field, and Opus A is doing scary good,” Violette said. “She
breezes as good as the colts. When horses are doing this well, they can improve
dramatically. With her, there’s not a lot of pressure. It’s a Grade 1, and if we
can be third, that would be great.
“If we can do some serious damage, we can look to the Frizette (S. [G1] at
Belmont Park on October 10). If not, there’s the Joseph A. Gimma (for state-breds
on September 27). There’s not a lot of pressure.”
Rounding out the field are recent maiden winners SKY FEVER (Roaring Fever),
BICKERSONS (Silver Deputy) and SNAP HAPPY (Lion Heart).
Also on Sunday’s card, the 102nd running of the $100,000
Saranac
S. (G3) will be held for three-year-olds going 1 3/16 miles on the turf, as
well as the $70,000
Commentator S., an overnight stakes for New York-breds created to honor the
recently-retired eight-year-old gelding, a two-time winner of the Whitney H.
(G1).
The Saranac features a field of eight, including SAL THE BARBER (Alphabet
Soup) and AL KHALI (Medaglia d’Oro), the respective second and third from the
National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S. (G2). Al Khali is cross-entered to
Saturday’s Kent S. (G3) at Delaware Park.
Headlining the Commentator, a 5 1/2-furlong turf dash, are the Wesley
Ward-trained CANNONBALL (Catienus), a close second in the Golden Jubilee S.
(Eng-G1) at Royal Ascot last time out, and Jaipur S. (G3) hero SILVER TIMBER
(Prime Timber).