Promise Me Silver eyes fourth straight stakes win in Dixie Belle

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Promise Me Silver will put her 4-for-4 record on the line Friday at Oaklawn Park, where she takes on 10 others in the $100,000 Dixie Belle. The six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies is the opening-day feature, with the stakes winners Joy of the Saints, Timeaday, Strawberry Baby, and Lil Super Bear adding depth to the large field. In addition, the race will mark the stakes debut of the undefeated Toutsie Rules.

Friday’s opener is believed to be the earliest start to the Oaklawn meet in the 111-year history of the track, said Eric Jackson, general manager of Oaklawn. It’s due, he said, to how the calendar falls while working to fit in 57 dates. Oaklawn’s season is laid out backward from the Arkansas Derby, a race that traditionally is placed three weeks ahead of the Kentucky Derby, which is May 2 this year.

Promise Me Silver will be seeking her fourth consecutive stakes win in the Dixie Belle, and she appears to be an improving filly, judging from the tactics she employed Dec. 21 in the $50,000 Letellier Memorial at Fair Grounds in her most recent start.

“She was more impressive that day than any of her prior races based on her being able to settle, relax, and come from off the pace and come through,” said trainer Bret Calhoun. “She completely turned off sitting behind horses, finished up, and galloped out [strongly].”

Promise Me Silver (Last 3 Beyers: 86-77-69)

She has shown surface adaptability, too, as all four of her wins have come at different tracks. Promise Me Silver won her debut in a maiden special weight May 11 at Lone Star Park, then captured the Debutante at Churchill Downs on June 21 and a division of the Texas Stallion Stakes at Retama Park on Nov. 15 before taking the Letellier.

Cliff Berry has the mount for owners Myrna and Robert Luttrell.

Empressive Humor (Last 3 Beyers: 76-50-48)

She exits a quick race, having placed third Nov. 29 in a Churchill Downs sprint in which the winner covered six furlongs in 1:09.20.

Ricardo Santana Jr., who has won the last two riding titles at Oaklawn, has the mount for Steve Asmussen, the winner of the last three training titles in Hot Springs.

◗ The forecast for Friday’s opener is sunny skies and a high of 34 degrees, according to The Weather Channel. The overnight low for Thursday is 21 degrees, but no precipitation was in the forecast.