Stablemates Twisted Dixie, Bandit Point contenders on stretch-out
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The stablemates Twisted Dixie and Bandit Point will bring complementary running styles into Sunday’s featured eighth race at Oaklawn Park. Twisted Dixie figures to be prominent in the 1 1/16-mile conditioned allowance for 3-year-olds and up bred in Arkansas, while Bandit Point should be making his case through the lane.
The eight-horse field also includes past Arkansas-bred of the year Man in the Can and recent allowance winner Navy Seal. The allowance is expected to produce starters for the $200,000 Arkansas Breeders’ Championship on May 6.
Bandit Point was second in that race last season and Twisted Dixie fourth. The horses enter Sunday’s allowance off starts in the $150,000 Nodouble on March 4 at Oaklawn. Gar Hole wired the field to win by 1 1/2 lengths over runner-up Twisted Dixie and 2 3/4 lengths over third-place finisher Bandit Point.
“I think if we were going six and a half instead of six, either one could have won,” trainer Robert Cline said of Twisted Dixie and Bandit Point. “But Gar Hole did it again.”
Twisted Dixie will break from post 2 on Sunday. Gabe Saez has the mount for owner Val Yagos.
Twisted Dixie stalked Gar Hole from two to three lengths back in the Nodouble, and Cline thinks he might be closer to the front moving back to two turns.
“You would have to think he’s going to be somewhat forwardly placed,” Cline said. “He’s a big horse, takes him a little while to get his motor running. He’s got a long stride, gobbles up ground, does it fairly easily. He’s just kind of getting better and better.”
Bandit Point closed from next to last in the Nodouble. Kelsi Harr again has the mount on Bandit Point, who breaks from post 6.
“Bandit came with what I thought was a very good late run,” Cline said. “He was making up a lot of ground late, didn’t have time to get to either of them. I was happy with the move he was making at the wire.
“I feel like if it sets up for a closer, he’s definitely a horse that’s got to be dealt with late.”
Man in the Can was second by a neck in a one-mile allowance Feb. 19 at Oaklawn. He chased a loose-on-the-lead winner in Macho Ronnie, who also runs back in the eighth race Sunday.
Cristian Torres has the mount on Man in the Can from post 3, while Chel-C Bailey has the mount on Macho Ronnie from post 4.
◗ Grade 3 winner Hopper is under serious consideration for the $400,000 Oaklawn Mile on April 1, trainer Bob Baffert said Thursday. The Grade 3 race for 4-year-olds and up will be drawn Monday.
◗ Grade 3 winner Senor Buscador could make his next start in the Grade 1, $1 million Oaklawn Handicap on April 22, trainer Todd Fincher said Thursday.
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