Distinctive Dixie

THE “DUKE” HOPES TO FOLLOW IN BIG DRAMA’S FOOTSTEPS – After Duke of Mischief finished second in the Carl G. Rose Classic Handicap at Calder on Nov. 13, trainer David Fawkes did not really expect to be on the road any time soon with the 4-year-old colt.

“He didn’t do much running that day,” Fawkes said Tuesday morning after getting Duke of Mischief settled in Barn 45 for a run in Friday’s $500,000-added Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI). “The other horse (Birdrun) got away from him and (jockey Eibar) Coa wrapped up on him. He was going to go on the shelf for a while, but I thought he had one more in him so we’ll give it a shot.”

The trip to Louisville was the second of the month for Fawkes, who brought Harold L. Queen’s Big Drama here to capture the $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) on Nov. 6.

“I hauled him back myself and it sure made the drive a lot easier,” Fawkes said of his first Breeders’ Cup victory. “When we got back, they had a big sign for him at the barn.”

This is Duke of Mischief’s second trip to Churchill Downs this year, having made a June trip in which he finished eighth behind Blame in the Stephen Foster Handicap (GI).

“He was trapped inside the whole race and he doesn’t like to be down inside like that,” Fawkes said. “You look at his races and the best ones are when he can loop around four- or five-wide. We are hoping for a better trip this time.”

Duke of Mischief, who is owned by Alex and JoAnn Lieblong, breeder Marilyn McMaster and Fawkes Racing Inc., will be ridden by Coa on Friday and carry 116 pounds. Duke of Mischief will break from post position 11.

As for Big Drama, Fawkes said the 4-year-old colt owned by Harold Queen is “doing really good. We are pointing for the (Jan. 29) Sunshine Millions and then hopefully the Golden Shaheen (March 26 in Dubai).”

PATIENCE PAYS OFF FOR DOLLASES WITH DISTINCTIVE DIXIE – It took Distinctive Dixie seven tries to break her maiden and it took eight attempts in stakes company to enjoy her initial success at that level of competition, but it appears now that the 5-year-old daughter of 2000 Kentucky Derby (GI) winner Fusaichi Pegasus is hitting her best stride.

She is getting better with age,” said Cincy Dollase, wife of trainer Wally Dollase. “We knew that going in. The Fusaichi Pegasuses get better as they get older and with them it is mostly mental.”

Distinctive Dixie, who will carry high weight of 120 pounds in Thursday afternoon’s Falls City Handicap (GII), is coming off a 1 ½-length score in the Chilukki (GII) in her most recent start. Robby Albarado, who was aboard for the Chilukki victory, will be aboard again Thursday.

Even though she is a 5-year-old, the plan is to race a full season in 2011 with Distinctive Dixie, who is owned by the Robert and Beverly Lewis Trust.

“Plan A is to race next year,” Dollase said. “The horses come first with the Lewises and they like to see their horses perform.”

Beverly Lewis will be watching from California on Thursday with a family gathering planned at Newport Beach. What she may see if an off track for her mare, who has compiled a record of 5-6-3 in 18 races with earnings of $383,154.

“She has trained well on the mud,” Dollase said of Distinctive Dixie, who shows a runner-up finish on a track labeled as “wet-fast” in the Bayakoa this spring at Oaklawn Park. “But everybody has to run on the same track. I just hope it dries out and it is a nice day.”

CASH REFUND TO MAKE TURF DEBUT THURSDAY, WEATHER PERMITTING – It has been nearly three weeks since the Breeders’ Cup World Championships were run here and horses that ran in that memorable two-day event are beginning to make their initial starts back.

One of those is Richard, Bertram and Elaine Klein’s Cash Refund, who finished eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Cash Refund is entered in Thursday’s fifth race, a five-furlong allowance sprint on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

“It looks like he might have to run in the mud,” trainer Steve Margolis said with a nod toward a forecast that indicated rain in the Louisville area through Thursday night.

Cash Refund would be taking his grass debut if the race stays on the turf.

“We worked him on it over at Keeneland before the Breeders’ Cup and he worked well,” Margolis said. “He came out of the Breeders’ Cup fine and he is doing well. I talked it over with Richard and he said as long as he is doing well to take a shot.”

BARN TALK – With five racing days left in the 21-day Fall Meet, two of the three human races appear to be safely locked up. Owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey have had six winners, four more than a host of other owners. The Ramseys own a record 16 leading owner titles. Steve Asmussen has saddled 12 winners this meet, five more than his closest pursuer, Todd Pletcher. Asmussen is seeking his fourth consecutive leading trainer title, fifth Fall Meet title and ninth title overall.

That leaves the chase for leading rider that has come down to a two-man battle between Julien Leparoux and Robby Albarado. Leparoux holds a 22-18 advantage and is named on 29 mounts the next three days while Albarado is named on 27. Leparoux, who won leading Fall Meet riding titles outright in 2007 and 2008 and shared the title last fall with Calvin Borel, also has three spring titles on his resume. Albarado, who was leading rider during the 2008 Spring Meet, never has won a fall riding title. …

Leparoux continues his march up the all-time win list at Churchill Downs. His 22 victories at the current meet have elevated his total to 444, which is 12th all time. In his immediate sights at No. 11 is Mike McDowell (452). No. 10 on the all-time list is Patrick Johnson (465).  Kent Desormeaux, whose 10 victories are good for a tie for fourth in the rider standings, has 99 career wins at Churchill Downs. …    

Asmussen’s 12 victories put him at 390 all time at Churchill Downs, fifth best. The only trainers ahead of Asmussen are Bill Mott (639), Dale Romans (511), D. Wayne Lukas (477) and Bernie Flint (425). Tom Amoss, who is seventh all time here with 332 victories, has a chance to catch Jack Van Berg (335) for the sixth spot before the meet closes Sunday. …

There has not been a two-time winner this meet, which enters its 17th day today. Nine previous winners have tried for the second victory, but none has succeeded with three runner-ups and four third-place finishers. On today’s card, Strong Clue in the second and Party Lang in the fourth will bid for their second victory of the month beneath the Twin Spires. …

Because of the early 11:30 a.m. post time on Thanksgiving, training will be conducted from 6-8 a.m. on Thursday. …

Retiring Churchill Downs stall superintendent Mike Hargrave recorded his first hole-in-one on Monday at Seneca Golf Course. Hargrave aced the 183-yard 13th using a 7-wood.

The Robert and Beverly Lewis Trust’s Distinctive Dixie, winner of the Chilukki (Grade II) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 6, will carry top weight of 120 pounds and concede 2-6 pounds to her five rivals in the 95th running of the $150,000-added Falls City Handicap (GII) for fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles on the main track on Thanksgiving Day.

The Falls City will go as the 11th race on Thursday’s holiday program with a 4:24 p.m. (all times Eastern) post time as the centerpiece of the 12-race holiday program. First post time Thursday is 11:30 a.m.

Trained by Wally Dollase, Distinctive Dixie earned her first graded stakes victory in the one-mile Chilukki. Robby Albarado, who was aboard the 5-year-old daughter of 2000 Kentucky Derby (GI) winner Fusaichi Pegasus  for that triumph, has the call again Thursday on Distinctive Dixie, who will break from post position four.

Returning to challenge Distinctive Dixie is Ike and Dawn Thrash’s Chilukki runner-up Third Dawn, who has failed to win in three 2010 starts.  Now trained by Jeff Thornbury, the 4-year-old Sky Mesa filly finished 1 ½ lengths behind Distinctive Dixie in the Chilukki.  She will break from post position two under jockey Kent Desormeaux and will carry 118 pounds.  Third Dawn’s career highlights thus far have been a nose defeat to champion Stardom Bound in the 2009 Santa Anita Oaks (GI) and a victory in Del Mar’s $100,000 Torrey Pines for 3-year-old fillies later that year.

The only other graded stakes winner in the field is Stevestan Stables’ Striking Dancer. Trained by Ken McPeek, Striking Dancer won the Grade II La Canada on Santa Anita’s synthetic Pro-Ride surface in February. Julien Leparoux, who rode Serenading to victory in last year’s Falls City, has the call on Striking Dancer, who will break from post position three under 117 pounds.

Striking Dancer, a 4-year-old daughter of Smart Strike, won her only start over the main track at Churchill Downs.  That victory came in an optional claiming allowance race at 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 3 in which she defeated Falls City rivals High Quail and Ravi’s Song.

The Falls City field, from the inside out, is as follows: Dundalk Dust (Shaun Bridgmohan, 114 pounds), Third Dawn (Desormeaux, 118), Striking Dancer (Leparoux, 117), Distinctive Dixie (Albarado, 120), High Quail (Jesus Castanon, 115) and Ravi’s Song (Miguel Mena, 114).

The Robert and Beverly Lewis Trust’s Distinctive Dixie, coming off a four-month layoff, cruised to a 1 ½-length victory over Third Dawn to win the 25th running of the $171,900 Chilukki (GII) for fillies and mares on Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs.

Ridden by Robby Albarado, who won the Chilukki for a record-equaling fourth time, Distinctive Dixie stalked the pace set by Double Espresso through fractions of :23.21 and :46.47 down the backstretch straightway.

Leaving the far turn, Albarado swung Distinctive Dixie three wide and collared new leader Third Dawn at the head of the stretch and drew off for the victory. Distinctive Dixie covered the mile on a fast main track in 1:36.67.

Trained by Wally Dollase, Distinctive Dixie is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred mare by 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus out of the Dixieland Band mare A Lady From Dixie. The victory was worth $100,183 and increased Distinctive Dixie’s bankroll to $383,154 with a career record of 5-6-3 in 18 starts.  She has a record of 3-1-0 in six races at Churchill Downs.

Distinctive Dixie returned $16.40, $7.20 and $4.60. Third Dawn, ridden by Calvin Borel, returned $9.80 and $4.80 in finishing 1 3/4 lengths in front of favored Always a Princess, who paid $3 to show under Martin Garcia. Completing the field in order were Bronx City Girl, Double Espresso, First Passage, Emmy Darling, Direct Line, Devil by Design, Be Fair and Taste’s Sis.

In the race preceding the Chilukki, Steven Michael Bell’s Aegean won the $88,300 Dream Supreme overnight stake for 3-year-old fillies by three-quarters of a length over Rapport.

    Trained by Wesley Ward and ridden by Joel Rosario, Aegean ran her record to 2-for-2 at Churchill Downs having taken the Kentucky Juvenile (GIII) in April 2009 against males.

    Aegean covered the six furlongs on a fast main track in 1:09.56. The victory was worth $52,558 and increased the winner’s career earnings to $217,283 with four victories in 11 starts.

Aegean returned $16.60, $7 and $4.60. Rapport, ridden by Martin Garcia, returned $5.20 and $3.60 with Happy Week rallying for third a neck back of Rapport under John Velazquez and paying $4 to show.

    Racing resumes Sunday at 12:40 p.m. (all times Eastern) with an 11-race program highlighted by the 37th running of the $100,000-added Cardinal Handicap (GIII) for fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course. Post time for the Cardinal is 5:15 p.m.

POST RACE QUOTES

WALLACE DOLLASE (Trainer, Distinctive Dixie, winner) –  “We have known for a long time she is so special. She likes this track and trained good over this track before the race. We felt like she was going to run a big race and she did. We are very pleased and very excited about this race. Robby (Albarado) rode a solid race and did a great job. It took us a little bit to get over a couple minor issues and she proved today she is in top form. She is a beautiful filly. It is a big thrill to win this race and we are excited to win on Breeders’ Cup day.”

Robby Albarado (jockey, Distinctive Dixie, winner): “I had a great trip. For a second there I got scared going into the turn, I got squeezed back and had to shuffle to the outside and once she got there so content and she came home nice. This is great. I love Churchill Downs and it’s nice to do well here.”

Distinctive Dixie, ridden by Jesus Castanon, didn’t disappoint as the odds-on 3-5 favorite in Friday’s $51,840 allowance feature at Churchill Downs. The 4-year-old filly trained by Wally Dollase led every step of the way and turned back a late charge from Ms. Margaret H. to win the one-mile test for fillies and mares by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:35.75.

         
A Kentucky-bred daughter of 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, Distinctive Dixie paid $3.40, $2.20 and $2.10. Ms. Margaret H. paid $2.60 and $2.20. Nursery Rhyme finished third, another 4 ¼ lengths behind the runner-up, and returned $2.40. Extra Innings and Wisconsin Girl completed the order of finish. Quick Notice and She’s Due were late scratches.

 Distinctive Dixie clicked off fractions of :23.26 for the first quarter-mile, :46.52 for the half and 1:10.84 for six furlongs. She repulsed a bid by Nursery Rhyme at the head of the stretch and then drew clear to hold off Ms. Margaret H., who rallied from last in the field of five.

Distinctive Dixie won for the third time in 10 starts and earned $32,105 to pad her bankroll to $151,455 for the Robert B. and Beverly J. Lewis Trust.

Earlier on the 10-race program, 22-year-old jockey Miguel Mena won four races: the first race aboard Star Over Malibu ($5.20), the third on Stormin Yank ($6.20), the sixth with Final Copy ($3.60) and the seventh aboard Escrow ($3.80).

Live racing at Churchill Downs continues Saturday with an 11-race program, topped by the eighth running of the $100,000-added Matt Winn for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs. Also, Churchill Downs will simulcast the $1.1 million Preakness Stakes – an unprecedented Preakness showdown between Kentucky Derby champ Mine That Bird and Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra – from Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course immediately after the final live race at approximately 6:15 p.m. ET.

Preakness odds as of 6 p.m. ET on Friday (from the rail out): Big Drama, 10-1; Mine That Bird, 7-1; Musket Man, 17-1; Luv Gov, 25-1; Friesan Fire, 9-1; Terrain, 24-1; Papa Clem, 14-1; General Quarters, 17-1; Pioneerof the Nile, 7-1; Flying Private, 25-1; Take the Points, 14-1; Tone It Down, 19-1; and Rachel Alexandra, 3-2.

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