Inside post a difficult spot for Dixie Pixie
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Dixie Pixie ran one of the best races of her career last out when she stalked the pace to take a first-level allowance at Oaklawn. Trainer Brad Cox would like to see her get the same kind of trip in Wednesday's ninth race, but the conditions will be different. Dixie Pixie drew the rail for the second-level allowance sprint for fillies and mares, one start after breaking from post 5.
"We're definitely not going to send," Cox said. "We don't want to do that. We're not going to Quarter Horse her away from there. Hopefully, we can get a nice stalking trip, sit off the pace. I know we're not going to be too far off of it."
Dixie Pixie has used her speed to win 3 of 5 starts since Cox's client K C Garrett Farm claimed her last fall at Keeneland. She was taken out of a maiden claiming race for $15,000 and came back to win at that same level one start later at Churchill Downs. Dixie Pixie rolled by 13 lengths after Cox made a few equipment changes.
"We added blinkers after we claimed her," he said. "We noticed she was leaning out a little bit, it looked like, in her race at Keeneland."
Cox said a scoop, or extended, blinker was placed on her outside eye. He also switched to a run-out bit, which gives a rider more leverage aboard a horse that might drift. With the changes came two more wins, the latest in the allowance here March 5.
"She ran a big race last time, and the horse that ran second that day came back and won, so that was a positive," Cox said.
"We'll see how it plays out, the pace scenario. The ideal thing is to get her to relax a bit."
Cox said Jon Court, who has the mount, was key in getting Dixie Pixie to rate last time.
Cox, 29, has won with 4 of 12 starters at the meet. A former assistant to trainer Dallas Stewart, his stable is in a growth mode right now with the addition of client Midwest Thoroughbreds. After the current meet, Cox will send eight horses to Churchill and about 30 to Delaware Park.
"Things are going good," he said. "We're claiming horses. We've claimed 11 at the meet."
Dixie Pixie could get a stalking trip behind Margie Marie, while others set to start include recent winners Fabulous Babe and Souper Sweet.