- Home
- DRF Bets
- Handicapping & PPsHorsemen's ProductsReports
- The Wizard
- DRF Gameplan
- Quick Sheets
- DRF Picks
- Today's Racing Digest
- Key Race Report
- Positive ROI Report
- Moss Pace Figure Reports
- Debut Reports
- BreezeFigs
Access past performances- DRF EasyForm PPs
- DRF Classic PDF PPs
- DRF Formulator PPs
- DRF HarnessEye PPs
- DRF Daily Harness Program PPs
- Daily Racing Program PPs
Racing and Wagering InformationToolsHorse Racing Links- Race Tracks
- Casinos
- Account Wagering
- Breeding
- Racing and Charitable
- Contests/Games
- Regional/Free
- Radio Shows
Get the most out of
DRF's online PPs with
Learn more. - Entries
- Results
- NewsCategoriesTrack ReportsTriple Crown Special Events
Exclusive content available only with a DRF Plus Plan. See Plan Pricing. - Blogs
- Video
- Learn
- StorePast Performances
- Compare all DRF PPs
- DRF Formulator PPs
- DRF Classic PPs
- DRF EasyForm PPs
- Daily Racing Program PPs
- See all Pricing/Plans
REPORTS PICKS Harness PPs - Events
- Breeding
Email
HOT SPRINGS, Ark.- American Sugar closed with authority to win the third stakes race of her career in the $60,000 Dixie Belle for 3-year-old fillies Sunday at Oaklawn Park. She won by seven lengths over Little Miss Fitz, while it was another 2 1/4 lengths back in third to 4-5 favorite Lady Stonewall.
The Dixie Belle shared a card with the $60,000 American Beauty won by Cheery ($3.80).
American Sugar ($10.80) broke out at the start of the six-furlong Dixie Belle and trailed early as Baby Princess proceeded to set fractions of 22.13 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.45 for the half-mile. American Sugar launched a strong bid around the turn, came five wide into the stretch, and rolled home, to cover the distance on a track rated fast in 1:11.66.
“She’s so push-button,” said Alex Birzer, who rode the winner for Poindexter Thoroughbreds and trainer Lynn Chleborad.
American Sugar’s other stakes wins came in the $75,000 Gold Lassie at 5 1/2 furlongs at Prairie Meadows in July and the $50,000 E.L. Gaylord Memorial at 6 1/2 furlongs at Remington Park in October.
Chleborad said American Sugar would probably stretch out to two turns for her next start. The next 3-year-old filly stakes on the Oaklawn calendar is the $75,000 Martha Washington at a mile on Feb. 9.
Cheery scores in American Beauty
Cheery comfortably held off a bid from All About Allie to win the first stakes race of her career in the American Beauty for older fillies and mares. She won by 1 1/4 lengths, while All About Allie held second, 2 3/4 lengths in front of third-place finisher Formal Plan.
Cheery tracked the pace set by Mysterious Chimes, who took the field through factions of 22.35 for the opening quarter and 46.57 for the half-mile. Cheery moved to the lead in midstretch and then held off the late-running All About Allie to win the six-furlong race in 1:11.58.
“We had a good break,” said Victor Lebron, who rode the winner for trainer Al Stall Jr. “She settled perfectly for me. I just waited for the right time, pushed the button, and she was there.”
Cheery races for the partnership of Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider. She is a 4-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor and the Grade 2-winning mare Yell.
Best Bets
HOLY ACADEMY displayed respectable grass form last spring, before performing well on the Poly. She's stretching out off a third behind a runner-up who came back to finish second in the Ballade Stakes, and could be dangerous as the controlling speed in this optional claimer. QUEEN OF THE WAVES rallied wide from mid-pack to beat N1X allowance stock following a layoff when she last saw action March 29 at the Fair Grounds. She can obviously fire while fresh, and should be prominent under Da Silva, who broke her maiden.
