Amy's Challenge, Mia Mischief tangle in Dixie Belle

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Amy’s Challenge and Mia Mischief showed real talent on separate circuits last year, with each filly winning a maiden special weight race by more than 16 lengths. The two will meet for the first time on Saturday, as both launch their much-anticipated 3-year-old seasons in the $125,000 Dixie Belle Stakes going six furlongs at Oaklawn Park.

The seven-horse field also includes Minit to Stardom, who like Amy’s Challenge is an undefeated stakes winner, and Secret Passion, who in July captured the Prairie Gold Lassie at Prairie Meadows.

“There’s a lot of fast fillies running,” said Mac Robertson, who trains Amy’s Challenge for Novogratz Racing Stables.

KEY CONTENDERS

Amy’s Challenge, by Artie Schiller
Beyers: 92-91

◗ She has won both of her starts, and both of those victories came over male rivals. Amy’s Challenge romped by 16 1/2 lengths in her debut Aug. 6 at Canterbury Park, while covering 5 1/2 furlongs in a quick 1:03.89. Amy’s Challenge won the $75,000 Shakopee Juvenile by three-quarters of a length on Sept. 16 at Canterbury, covering six furlongs in 1:09.58.

“She’s a filly that was always super athletic,” said Robertson. “Right away, at the training center, she was super athletic, and anytime you get a big filly that’s really athletic, you get high on them. She got ready right away and her races were impressive.”

◗ Amy’s Challenge has been working at Oaklawn in preparation for her first start of the year, among her moves a bullet half-mile in 47.80 seconds on Dec. 27.

“We gave her a break,” Robertson said. “She went to the farm a couple of months. We stopped on her. I’ve got some decent works in her over a deep track, and I sure think she’s fit enough.”

◗ Jareth Loveberry, who has ridden Amy’s Challenge in each of her starts, has the mount Saturday from post 6.

◗ Amy’s Challenge has won both of her races wire to wire and faces other speed in the Dixie Belle.

“We’ll see how it goes and hope for the best,” said Robertson, who believes Amy’s Challenge is not one dimensional.

Mia Mischief, by Into Mischief
Last 3 Beyers: 90-71-85

◗ She won her maiden in her second career start, cruising by 16 1/4 lengths while covering six furlongs in a sharp 1:09.98 on Oct. 8 at Keeneland. From there, Mia Mischief set the pace to the late stages of the Spendthrift Farm Juvenile Fillies Stallion Stakes at seven furlongs Oct. 29, and finished second. She closed out her season with a wire job in a Churchill allowance, covering 6 1/2 furlongs in a quick 1:16.17.

“She’s obviously a very fast filly,” said Steve Asmussen, who trains Mia Mischief for Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt. “Hopefully, we’ll get her year started off right. She’s 2 for 4, with two seconds. I can’t believe I ever got her beat!”

◗ Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount from post 5.