Dixie Talking scores in stakes

Dixie Talking didn't even make her career debut until December. But she heads into 2005 as a stakes winner.

Stretching out to 1 1/16 miles after winning her maiden in a 5 1/2-furlong sprint on Dec. 8, Dixie Talking ($8.40) defeated 3-5 favorite Take a Check by 1 1/4 lengths in Thursday's $100,000 at Pimlico.

Trained by Robin Graham, Dixie Talking covered the distance on a fast track in 1:47.71.

It was the 11th stakes victory of the year at Pimlico or Laurel for jockey Abel Castellano Jr., one more than Ryan Fogelsonger.

"This is a nice filly," Castellano said. "When I got outside she was feeling full of run, and when I asked her to go from the quarter pole to home she gave me a really nice run."

Dixie Talking's dam, Gin Talking, won the Juvenile Filly in 1999. The following year, Graham took over the training of Gin Talking and guided her to three stakes wins and horse of the year honors in Maryland.

"We were aiming for this race all year," Graham said. "I'm just glad the timing worked out. She's very kind to be around and she has a good work ethic, but like her mother, you do things on her terms."