Arapahoe Park: Recency favors Sweet Dixie Van in Ingrid Knotts Stakes

Sweet Dixie Van will have recency on her chief rivals, Illusive Crystals and Vanasee, on Saturday when she makes her third start of the year in the $30,000 Ingrid Knotts at Arapahoe Park. The six-furlong race is for fillies and mares bred in Colorado.

Sweet Dixie Van has been racing at Will Rogers Downs this spring, while the Ingrid Knotts will be the first start since last year’s Arapahoe meet for both Illusive Crystals and Vanasee. Vanasee is coupled with Sweet Dixie Vann.

Sweet Dixie Van held her own against her Will Rogers rivals while in Oklahoma, running second in an optional $25,000 claiming race April 14, then fourth at the same level in her most recent start May 1. The return to Arapahoe figures to benefit Sweet Dixie Van, who has registered all three of her wins at the Aurora, Colo., track. Adrian Ramos has the mount for owner Bill Vanlandingham and trainer Tyrone Gleason.

Illusive Crystals has not raced since Aug. 20, when she won an Arapahoe allowance by 6 3/4 lengths. The Ingrid Knotts will be her first start in nine months, the same pattern she followed into last year’s running of the stakes, when she finished second. Mike Ziegler has the mount for trainer Kenneth Gleason.

Kenneth Gleason will also send out Vanasee. She last raced on Aug. 13, and was a seven-length winner of the $43,000 Spicy at Arapahoe.