Klassy Bridget notches third straight triumph with Dixie Bell
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Klassy Bridgette is living up to her name.
She won her third straight race at the Oaklawn Park meet Saturday in the $150,000 Dixie Belle and in the process defeated a pair of invading stakes winners in Key of Life and Stone Silent.
“She’s got a lot of class to her,” said Chris Hartman, who trains Klassy Bridgette. “It was a very tough race.”
The Dixie Belle was a six-furlong stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
Key of Life, winner of the $200,000 Myrtlewood in October at Keeneland, and Stone Silent, winner of the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Debutante at Santa Anita, were the top two choices.
Klassy Bridgette ($7.40) got good support, too, after winning back-to-back sprints at Oaklawn. She took a maiden special weight Dec. 11 and returned to win a first-level allowance by six lengths Jan. 13.
Klassy Bridgette on Saturday stalked the pace set by Stone Silent, who took the field through a half-mile in 46.46 seconds on a muddy, sealed track. The eventual winner moved to the fore in the final furlong and won by a neck over Pate.
“I was very proud of her, that’s for sure,” Hartman said. “When she got in the clear, I thought she had an exceptional chance. I was doubting myself because of the sealed track. Everything worked out perfect.”
Klassy Bridgette covered the distance in 1:11.63. Francisco Arrieta has ridden the filly in all five of her starts. The daughter of Army Mule races for JD Thoroughbreds, Joe Davis and Larry Romero.
Key of Life finished third as the favorite, 2 3/4 lengths behind Pate. Stone Silent was fifth as the second choice Saturday.
Hartman said plans are to be determined for Klassy Bridgette.
“I’ve been wanting to stretch her out, but she’s been doing so good sprinting, I’m going to have to go to the drawing board and sketch up a plan,” said Hartman.
Klassy Bridgette has now won 3 of 5 starts for earnings of $262,350.
*** There was a million-dollar exacta of sorts in the seventh race, when Silver Prospector ($7.80) won the allowance route over fellow millionaire Super Stock. Both graded stakes winners are trained by Steve Asmussen, who is fast approaching a milestone of 10,000 training wins in North America.
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