Xtreme Diva noses Blue Squall in Dixie Belle Stakes
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HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Xtreme Diva ran her record to 4 for 6 on Saturday when she edged Blue Squall by a nose in the $150,000 Dixie Belle at Oaklawn Park.
It was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third to favorite Tanya Showers.
The Dixie Belle was a six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies. It was held on a clear but chilly afternoon in which Oaklawn welcomed an estimated on-track crowd of 31,000. Handle on the 10-race card from all sources was $7.6 million.
Xtrteme Diva ($6.60) was content to let the pace go as Sharp Tune set pressured fractions of 22.58 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.41 for the half-mile. Xtreme Diva put in a strong bid on the turn, sweeping by rivals while racing three wide and accelerating into the stretch. She battled late with Blue Squall, and won the photo while covering the distance on a fast track in 1:10.78.
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Eduardo Gallardo was aboard for trainer Mac Robertson.
“I broke and remained patient,” Gallardo told Oaklawn publicity. “At the three-eighths pole, I took her out a little bit. In the stretch, she ran well.”
Xtreme Diva won the second stakes race of her career behind the Northern Debutante for Minnesota-breds at Canterbury. She came into the Dixie Belle off a sharp allowance win at Oaklawn. Gallardo was aboard that afternoon, and for the Northern Lights Debutante.
Xtreme Diva is a daughter of Coal Front who races for Xtreme Racing Stables. The ownership group and Robertson also had the fourth-place finisher in the race, Xtreme Smoke Show. Xtreme Smoke Show encountered trouble at a couple of points during the running of the Dixie Belle.
Xtreme Diva has now earned $255,642.
Racing resumes Sunday, while there also will be a holiday Monday card.
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