Dixon's fillies in Downthedustyroad have contrasting styles
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Tim Dixon will take a two-pronged approach to the $100,000 Downthedustyroad on Saturday at Oaklawn Park. Jonesboro Polly figures to be winging it on the front end, while Brooke’s a Bookin should be making her case through the stretch. The fillies, owned by Jess D. George, are coupled in the field of 11.
The Downthedustyroad is a six-furlong race for fillies and mares bred in Arkansas. The field includes Patchofbadweather, who captured the Lady Razorback in 2014 at Louisiana Downs, and Be My Caroline, the winner of the $75,000 Rainbow Miss last year at Oaklawn. Adding further depth is Pretty Suspect, a stakes-placed runner invading from Fair Grounds.
Brooke’s a Bookin is a 3-year-old filly facing older rivals, but she is the lone entrant with a stakes win over open company, having taken the $75,000 By the Light last out at Delta Downs.
The 4-year-old Jonesboro Polly also last raced at Delta and was fourth in an allowance that was her first start of the year Feb. 13. Both fillies are by the stallion Jonesboro, a Grade 2 winner and earner of $1.5 million who is standing in Arkansas.
“I’ve run a lot of the Jonesboro babies, and I think they’re late bloomers,” Dixon said. “Brooke’s just getting better.”
Downthedustyroad, Race 8
KEY CONTENDERS
Brooke’s a Bookin, by Jonesboro
Last 3 Beyers: 72-57-50
◗ She will be cutting back to one turn after a front-running win in the By the Light, a seven-furlong race run around two turns at Delta Downs. For the effort, Brooke’s a Bookin earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 72. She will be making her first start against older rivals Saturday.
“We hesitated about that,” Dixon said. “We thought she was good enough to go in there.”
◗ Rico Flores will be in to ride Brooke’s a Bookin, who is 3 for 5, with all of her wins against open company at Delta.
“She’s sharp,” Dixon said. “She’s run five times at Delta and won three races, one of them being a stakes. She’s turned out to be a pretty hard-knocking filly. We’ve been pleased with her. She’s really smart, really intelligent, and she listens to the rider.”
◗ Brooke’s a Bookin was the first stakes winner for Jonesboro.
Jonesboro Polly, by Jonesboro
Last 3 Beyers: 60-64-46
◗ She dueled and finished fourth in a five-furlong allowance last out at Delta, her first start since December.
“She likes to run,” Dixon said. “She’ll be out there running hard on the front.”
◗ Ramon Vazquez has the mount from the rail.