Chanel's Legacy wins Dixie Belle for second stakes victory

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Chanel’s Legacy tracked a contested pace before moving to a 2 1/2-length win over My Sweet Stella in the $125,000 Dixie Belle for 3-year-old fillies Saturday at Oaklawn Park. It was another half-length back to Five Star Factor in third.

The Dixie Belle was run in front of an estimated crowd of 10,000.

Chanel’s Legacy ($13.80) settled in third behind Country Candy and Vertical Oak, who went at it through an opening quarter in 22.19 seconds and a half-mile in 45.70. Chanel’s Legacy took over in the stretch and went on to cover the distance on a fast track in 1:11.85.

Alex Birzer rode Chanel’s Legacy for trainer Lynn Chleborad.

“We thought there would be some speed,” Chleborad said. “We wanted to save her kick for the end. It makes her a better horse when she can come off the pace and kick it down the lane.”

Chanel’s Legacy is a homebred daughter of Dominus who races for her breeder, Allen Poindexter.

“I raised her at my house,” said Poindexter.

Chanel’s Legacy was the second Dixie Belle winner for the team of Poindexter, Chleborad, and Birzer, following American Sugar in 2013.

The Dixie Belle was the second stakes win for Chanel’s Legacy, who in October captured the $50,000 E.L. Gaylord Memorial at Remington Park. She then stretched out to two turns and ran fourth in both the Grade 3, $400,000 Delta Downs Princess and the $100,000 Trapeze at Remington.

Poindexter and Chleborad said Chanel’s Legacy could move back to two turns next for the $125,000 Martha Washington at a mile Feb. 11 at Oaklawn. The race is a steppingstone to the Grade 3, $400,000 Fantasy.