Specially heads field in Dixie Belle

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – This could be a big holiday weekend for the broodmare Peace Process.

She has leading contenders in two stakes at Oaklawn Park, with Specially up first in the $125,000 Dixie Belle on Saturday and Joevia scheduled to run Monday in the Grade 3, $500,000 Razorback Handicap.

Specially figures to go favored over four others in the Dixie Belle, a six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies. She invades from Fair Grounds off a 12 1/4-length win in an allowance sprint. The Beyer Speed Figure of 88 that she earned that day is the best career number in the Dixie Belle.

“She’s got a good pedigree and we’re hoping to pick up black type on Saturday,” said Mark Casse, who trains Specially, a daughter of Tapiture, for John Oxley.

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The Dixie Belle field also includes Sassy Seneca, who makes her first start against fillies after defeating males in her two starts, including the Shakopee Juvenile at Canterbury in her most recent out Sept. 14.

The 10-race card Saturday includes a pair of allowance routes for 3-year-olds that could produce stakes starters later in the meet.

Specially’s allowance win at Fair Grounds on Jan. 25 came over 5 1/2 furlongs in the slop. She stalked the pace before overhauling her rivals at 1-5.

“It was pretty impressive – the way she did it,” Casse said. “She was able to overcome a little bit of trouble. They made it a little tight on her going down the backside. She backed out of there and took off. Hopefully, that experience helps her. She drew the one hole, which is not ideal.”

Jockey David Cohen has the mount aboard Specially on Saturday. Last year, he and Casse teamed to win a 3-year-old filly stakes at Oaklawn with Power Gal.

Specially won her career debut in an October maiden special weight sprint at Keeneland by more than five lengths, earning a strong Beyer Speed Figure of 82. The runner-up, Lucrezia, came right back to win a maiden special weight and has since won two stakes. Specially, meanwhile, went on to start as the favorite in the $122,000 Rags to Riches at Churchill Downs, setting the pace before finishing seventh to eventual Grade 2 winner Finite.

“Her second start wasn’t a true indication of her ability,” Casse said. “We gave her a break, gave her time to regroup, and you saw the benefit in her last start.

“We’re still learning about her. She has a tremendous amount of ability.”

Sassy Seneca is one of two undefeated runners in the field for Novogratz Racing Stables and trainer Mac Robertson. The other is Ring Leader, who was an impressive allowance winner on the opening day card Jan. 24 at Oaklawn.