The Dixie Stakes (Grade 2)- $250.000 Purse
PIM- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Turf
May 21, 2016

After winning the last two editions of The Dixie Stakes, Seven Years returned to the race at seven years of age in an effort to complete a threepeat of the race.   He still seemed to be in good form, and the presence of the current BC Mile champion in the field would only make it a greater accomplishment if Seven Years could pull it off.  However, these races are decided on the race track, and today we would see why it is so difficult to win the same stake three years in a row. In any other race, a horse as talented as Sir Tom, the winner of the BC Mile last fall and still looking sharp, would be the headliner.  Today, instead of history, we get a passing of the torch.  Like Seven Years, Sir Tom won this race for the first time at the age of five, so who knows, maybe we’re talking about him going for a threepeat in 2018?   Congratulations to Brave, the winning trainer of the Dixie for the first time.   It is their ninth graded stake win, seven of which have been from Sir Tom.  The winning jockey is J R Velazquez, who wins the race for the second time, with the prior time being in 2005 with Columbia River.  Not too often you’ll get a chance to mention that great from the past in an article, so can’t pass up the chance!  Let’s take a look at the race!

1st- 1- Sir Tom (6/5)– The reigning BC Mile champion from Brave and post time favorite here seemed to break well out of the gate, but would not have an interest in chasing Seven Years in the beginning moments of the race.   As they moved into the first turn, J R Velazquez would back up our eventual winner to third place, with distance to the leader holding steady between three and four lengths.  This is where he would be content to cruise along for the backstrech run, and even into the final turn.  It wasn’t until they were approaching the exit of the turn that it looked like Sir Tom was going to make a huge bid at the leaders.  Once the stretch run began, though, it was very clear that J R Velazquez was just waiting for his time to strike, and there would be no one better in the stretch then Sir Tom.  Seven Years proved to be a little feisty in the stretch, but we shouldn’t have expected anything less from that one.  In the final half furlong, Velazquez let Sir Tom know he would need just a little bit more in order to complete the winning pass in time, and Sir Tom would deliver like you would expect from a horse that can win a BC race.   He’d complete the pass and win the race by about a full length!  The time of the race was 1:39.44, which puts it second of the three Dixie’s that have been run at this distance. Congrats again!  Sir Tom is a five year old horse by Sir Bart, and out of Kaluha; both parents being autogens.  He was bred in Pennsylvania as a third quarter two year old by Brave, and they have been together throughout!

2nd- 3- Seven Years (2/1)- The two time defending Dixie champion from Alydar Stables looked to start this race much as he did in 2014, starting quickly and going right to the front at the start.  He would lead the field into the opening turn while holding about a two length lead, setting the opening quarter in :23.34.  In the backstretch, he continued to cruise along in good form as the half went in :46.72.  As the move into the turn began, Two Brushes looked to make a run at him, but he did very well to hold off that bid, and continued to lead at the top of stretch.  At this point, it was becoming apparent that Sir Tom was lurking as his biggest challenger here, instead.  Did well for a little while in his bid to hold off the reigning BC Mile champion, but in the final half furlong, Sir Tom kicked it into another gear that Seven Years just did not have.

3rd- 2- Two Brushes (7/5)-   The Drabfantasy entry got a lot of play at betting window as well, as many must have liked the weight allowance that he received as a three year old in this field.  He did look good from the start, and would be the one stalking Seven Years into the opening turn.  He was content to remain in the shadows of the pacesetter throughout the backstretch.  R J Albarado looked to make a move around Seven Years into the final turn, but the defending champion of the race would be too much for the three year old , and he would never get within a length.

4th- 4- Clouseau (999+/1)– So, did only one person bet on the Wolfs Den gelding?  Shockingly, he went off at 1642/1, so Inspector Jacques will have to investigate that.  He would right to the back at the start of the race.  Momentarily looked like he was considering making a move towards the end of the backstretch, but never really did.  He would never get involved here.

Track: Firm
Time: :23¹  :46³  1:09⁴  1:39²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 3 Paid 4.80

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES