Amoss looks to stay hot with You'll Be Back in Dixie Belle

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Tom Amoss will attempt to keep his strong Oaklawn Park meet motoring along Monday when he saddles You’ll Be Back in the $150,000 Dixie Belle Stakes.

The race, which was rescheduled after a torrential downpour led to its cancellation, is for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs. Amoss won last weekend’s counterpart for males, the $150,000 Ozark, with I Got Game.

The Dixie Belle drew a field of eight. G W’s Girl should go favored following her win at this distance in the $150,000 Mockingbird on Jan. 4. The Beyer Speed Figure of 87 she earned is the best career number in the Dixie Belle. The other stakes winner in the field is Innocence, who is coming off a five-length win in the Borderplex at Sunland Park.

You’ll Be Back also exits a stakes. She finished second in the Year’s End, a one-mile race run Dec. 29 at Oaklawn.

“It’s a turnback from route to sprint and I think that’s going to suit her,” Amoss said. “She was very impressive in her maiden win going six furlongs.”

Amoss looks for You’ll Be Back to be sitting off the pace when she starts from post 4.

“I think she runs her best race with a target,” he said.

Cristian Torres has the mount for Greenwell Thoroughbreds. It’s the new nom de course for Greg Tramontin, who also races Quickick, the third-place finisher in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Amoss said plans also call for Greenwell Thoroughbreds to be the name of a farm Tramontin recently purchased in Kentucky.

“He bought the old Siena Farm, which is a beautiful farm,” Amoss said. “Greg has made a major investment in the Thoroughbred business. It’s his passion. Now he’s got this farm and he’s named the stable after a family name. Nothing has changed but the name to honor his family.”

Through Friday, Amoss had gone 8 for 43 with nine runner-up finishes and six third-place finishes at the Oaklawn meet. His horses have earned more than $650,000. Amoss also has a division at Fair Grounds. His Oaklawn assistant is Chris Richard.

“He makes a major difference for us,” Amoss said. “Not only is he a great horseman, he understands Oaklawn and how to attack it from a training standpoint, as well as a racing standpoint.

“I’m very happy with the meet.”

Commodore Stakes

Monday’s card also includes the $145,000 Commodore, a new overnight stakes for 4-year-olds and up at six furlongs. It goes as the fourth on the 10-race card.

Wendelssohn will break from the rail in the field of six and could go favored after winning a conditioned allowance sprint with a Beyer of 100 in his last start Feb. 2. The number is tied for second highest of the meet.

Wendelssohn closed from next to last for a 5 1/2-length win under apprentice Tyler Bacon, who again has the mount for trainer Chris Hartman.

Disco Ball had a six-race win streak snapped last out on Jan. 23 when third in a $40,000 starter allowance. He brings speed to the table and could show the way under Samuel Camacho Jr.

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