Woodbine: Dixie Strike gets first stakes win in Ontario Lassie

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Dixie Strike notched her first stakes victory convincingly in the $151,600 Ontario Lassie at Woodbine Saturday.

Bear’s Song established a slow pace in the 1 1/16-mile route for 2-year-old fillies, while Dixie Strike raced in mid-pack under Patrick Husbands. Dixie Strike commenced a four-wide rally at the quarter pole, and then hit the front early in the stretch before kicking clear for a 5 1/2-length score in 1:44.92.

Two-time stakes winner Rose and Shine was along for second, and Awesome Fire edged out Mazarine Stakes winner Blue Heart for third in the 12-horse field of Ontario-breds.

A half-sister to 2011 Queen’s Plate winner Inglorious, Dixie Strike paid $7.40 and collected $90,000 for owner John Oxley and trainer Mark Casse.

“She’s really been training well,” said assistant trainer Kathryn Sullivan. “She’s really matured. She was so professional today in the paddock. She has big footsteps to follow in, but I think she proved that she will be able to do so.”