Dixieland Bull tries to go longer on turf

Trainer Bob Schultz has long felt that Dixieland Bull would get two turns, but he knows the proof is in the doing. So on Saturday, he will be as anxious as her backers to see what Dixieland Bull does when she stretches out to 7 1/2 furlongs on turf for an allowance for 2-year-old fillies at Louisiana Downs.

The race goes as the third, and Schultz said it could serve as Dixieland Bull’s stepping-stone to the $50,000 Donnie Wilhite Memorial at Louisiana Downs on Aug. 28.

The allowance drew a field of eight, and like Dixieland Bull, most of the starters are making their two-turn debuts.

“A lot of these boys are trying to figure out whether these fillies can do two turns,” Schultz said of his fellow trainers in the race. “That’s what I’m trying to find out. The filly is bred to go two turns. And she acts like in her training program that she’ll do it. The worst fear I have is her not rating. We’ve been practicing, and have let her rate a little bit and run toward the end of the work. But she’s only run three times, and has been shipped.”

Dixieland Bull has set the pace in all of her races, wiring her rivals in both her career debut May 21 and a turf allowance sprint June 11. From there, she dueled and finished second by a length in the $50,000 Princess at Louisiana Downs in her last start July 3.

Dixieland Bull is a daughter of Holy Bull, whose significant route wins included the Travers, Haskell, and Florida Derby. Her dam, Placid Star, was a multiple stakes winner at two turns. Dixieland Bull will be ridden by Eguard Tejera.

Also on the card, Schultz will send out Lee’s Spirit, winner of last month’s $50,000 Barksdale, in an allowance for Louisiana-breds at about a mile on turf. The race also drew Snug, winner of the $100,000 Louisiana Cup Turf Classic. The allowance figures to produce starters for either the $50,000 Shiskabob or the $50,000 John Franks Memorial for Louisiana-breds, both turf routes at Louisiana Downs on Aug. 28.