Stone Silent seeks second stakes win in Dixie Belle

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Stone Silent joined an exclusive club last year by winning her career debut in a stakes race. She’s seeking a second stakes win Saturday, when she invades from Southern California for the $150,000 Dixie Belle at Oaklawn Park.

The six-furlong race is for 3-year-old fillies, and the field of eight also includes Key of Life, winner of the $200,000 Myrtlewood in October at Keeneland; Twirled, a local allowance winner who was second in the Fern Creek at Churchill Downs; and Klassy Bridgette, who has won back-to-back races at the meet at Oaklawn.

Stone Silent made her only start in June, and instead of running in a traditional maiden race, won the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Debutante at Santa Anita. She led throughout to capture the five-furlong race by 3 3/4 lengths. The Beyer Speed Figure of 78 that she earned is the best last-race number in the Dixie Belle.

“Sometimes you can jump right out there, can skip a step if you’ve got a really nice one,” said John Sadler, who trains Stone Silent.

Sadler said Stone Silent was targeted for the Dixie Belle for her first start at 3 instead of a race at 6 1/2 furlongs on turf at Santa Anita.

“I wanted bring her back at six [furlongs] and I wanted to bring her back on dirt,” he said. “It looked like a good spot for her.”

Stone Silent is a daughter of Adios Charlie and the mare Travelator, a multiple stakes winner of more than $600,000. Stone Silent has a half-brother, Hollywood Jet, who also is a stakes winner. Stone Silent is owned by Talla Racing and West Point Thoroughbreds. Ramon Vazquez, who was aboard for her debut, has the mount again Saturday from post 4.

Stone Silent faces other speed, but has a chance to slip away in the Dixie Belle.

“That’s her calling card,” Sadler said. “She’s very quick.”

Key of Life, the only other stakes winner in the field, won the Myrtlewood at the same six-furlong distance of the Dixie Belle. She is making her first start since November, when she was third in the Fern Creek. The winner of the race, Red Carpet Ready, returned in her next start to win the Grade 3 Forward Gal at Gulfstream Park.

Key of Life will break from post 3 under Flavien Prat. Brad Cox, who through Wednesday was nine wins from 2,000 victories in North America, trains the daughter of Mo Town for Flurry Racing Stable and Hoffman Family Racing.

Twirled is coming off a two-length allowance win Dec. 31 at Oaklawn. It was her first start since the Fern Creek effort, and she delivered at 3-5.

“I thought she ran as expected,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “She’s a very nice filly. She’s very quick.”

Isaac Castillo has the mount from post 7 for Asmussen, who through Wednesday was eight wins from reaching 10,000 training victories in North America.

◗ Thomas Shelby, who runs in an allowance, is one of three horses New York-based trainer David Jacobson has sent to Oaklawn for Saturday races. The trio was to fly in Thursday. Vazquez has the mount on the horses. Thomas Shelby’s rivals include 2021 Arkansas Derby winner Super Stock. Jacobson said the allowance could propel Thomas Shelby to the Stymie at Aqueduct.