Fair Grounds: I Dazzle delivers in Red Camelia

I Dazzle might be a 6-year-old mare, but it appears she has just now found her calling.

Based in California for most of her career, I Dazzle was purchased privately this winter and shipped to trainer Mike Stidham’s Fair Grounds barn to belatedly attempt to take advantage of her Louisiana-bred status. The plan has gone off perfectly, and after capturing a statebred-restricted allowance race March 1 in her Fair Grounds debut, she won the $60,000 Red Camelia Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths on Saturday.

I Dazzle broke from post 9 Saturday but got a perfect trip under Robby Albarado, who managed to sneak in and avoid getting hung too wide on the first turn. From there, I Dazzle stalked on the outside in fourth and third place as Ladyzarbridge set splits of 24.59 seconds, 50.12, and 1:15.12, by which point I Dazzle had ranged up to challenge for the lead. Ladyzarbridge had something left and ran on gamely, but I Dazzle – all things being equal -- simply is a superior horse, and she pushed to the front in the final furlong and comfortably held clear a late run from Tensas Harbor, who nipped Ladyzarbridge for second.

Winning time for1 1/16 miles on firm turf was 1:46.19, and I Dazzle paid $4.60 to win. I Dazzle, by Hold that Tiger, won for the sixth time in 22 career starts. Stidham, who is part of the ownership group, said I Dazzle might start next at the Keeneland meet in April.