The Dixie Stakes – Grade II
PIM Race #13 1 1/16m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $250.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward.
1 Eastern Townships Sanny Village Bejarano R
When Sanny Village sadly passed away i thought we had seen the last of this tough five year old but thankfully his legacy lives on and we get another chance to see his silks at the track. The winner of last years Shadwell Turf Mile he has always been a little inconsistent but at his best as he proved that day he is very good indeed. This season saw an early win in an optional claimer followed by a good fourth in the GP turf Handicap under joint top weight. His last start came in the Kilroe Mile and whilst he was only beaten two lengths he was never closer and was a little flat that day. He is still working very well so if the best of him turns up today he could be very hard to beat.
2 Vegan Restaurant Mb Stables Colon L H
Second in the grade three Saranac last year he has been very lightly tried recently being beaten in a little allowance at TUP last time and well beaten at GP in his seasonal debut before that. That sort of form is not good enough but his works seem solid enough and Mb Stables doesnt throw money away however he may be here as a pacemaker for his stable companion so his slim chances do seem even slimmer.
3 Theory D J C Racing Stables Maldonado E
The three’s start to take over at this time of year but 5Lbs may not be enough for this one today. A fair two year old he has disappointed so far this year but did give a sniff of a return to form when tried on the turf last time so he may be better than his form suggests. I expect a big run but mainly because of the weight allowance.
4 Devil Six Maxmillion Farm Castellano J J
He looked a real future star when taking the LRL Turf Cup last year and backed that up with an excellent fourth in the BC Mile. He hasn’t impressed so far this year but clearly has a touch of class at his best and like Eastern Townships if he is on his best behaviour he will take some beating.
5 Danke Schon Nakamura Stables Court J K
Took a while to break his maidens and only did so at the end of last year. Since then however he has really stepped up finishing second in the Fort Lauderdale and then winning the Canadian Turf by a hard fought head. Beaten in an overnight last time in 1.45 and 1 just goes to show the lack of difference between a graded stakes and an overnight and shouldnt be seen as too much of a negative. He is working well and in form.
6 Crafty Shenanigans Mb Stables Pennington F
This one boasts some great turf form with seconds in the Secretariat and the Pacific Classic last year in a season that was topped of with a decent fifth in the BC Turf. He hasnt been in bad form this year but this trip is on the short side for him and he will need his pacemaker to do a good job to win.
7 Jabba The Hutt TwinTowersRacing Ortiz I Jr
An honest sort, but I am not sure he is up to this level.
8 Nineties Batler John Henry Albarado R J
Just beaten in the Commonwealth Turf last year he is a solid horse over this trip and whilst he is working very nicely i am not sure he has quiet enough class to pull off a win here. The wide draw will test especially as he has raced from it a few times and been a victim of the slingshot and weaken version of the wide draw and may find that happens again today.
9 My Plucky Hambletonian Stable Juarez N
He is a pretty good sort and had enough speed to finish fourth in the Nearctic Stakes last year and enough stamina to win the San Marcos Stakes this year. He probably has the most consistent overall form at this level in the whole field and as long as he can overcome the wide draw he should be very close to winning.
SUMMARY
An interesting contest with some very good horses that are a bit hit and miss. Crafty Shenanigans may be good enough if he gets a fast early pace but without that he may find My Plucky a bit quick for him. Dont write off Eastern Townships or Devil Six and the three year old may have something to say at the end too.
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