Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Contact: Jon Forbes
(718) 659-2240
JUSTWHISTLEDIXIE LOOKS TO GET BACK IN TUNE IN DISTAFF
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Distaff Handicap pits 4-year-old Justwhistledixie, who is trying to regain the winning touch she had early in her sophomore season, against fillies and mares who are seeking their first victory at the graded stakes level.
An easy winner of the Grade 2 Davona Dale and Grade 2 Bonnie Miss at
"She's been a bit of a bit disappointment, but Bill has been happy with the way she has been working recently," said Terry Finley, president of West Point Thoroughbreds, who owns Justwhistledixie in partnership with Lakland Farm. "We hope the change in scenery ─ going from
Finley is encouraged by Justwhistledixie's second-place finish behind Godolphin's Sara Louise over this surface in the 2009 Top Flight.
"You try to do everything you can to put them in a spot where they have already proven themselves," said Finley.
In Saturday's seven-furlong event, Justwhistledixie will be reunited with jockey Jose Lezcano, who guided the daughter of Dixie Union in the Top Flight. Assigned highweight of 119 pounds, the dark bay will break from the outside post.
Hour Glass, a 4-year-old from the Todd Pletcher barn, enters this spot off a smart 1 ½-length victory in the restricted Wheel Turns over the inner track on March 21. Two starts back, she was denied by just a half-length when fourth as part of a six-horse blanket finish in the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel Park on February 15.
"We were compromised by the pace in the Fritchie and by a speed-favoring track," said Pletcher's assistant, Jonathan Thomas. "They set two track records that day. If they ran that race a few more times, we would have won a time or two."
Owned by Mill House, Hour Glass has been taking it easy since capturing the Wheel Turns.
"It was by design," said Thomas of the decision to keep the 4-year-old off the worktab. "She's certainly a fit filly as she has been racing all winter."
If needed, Hour Glass can show early zip from post No. 4 under regular rider David Cohen and 116 pounds.
"She could be more tactical if she needs to be," said Thomas. "We just think she's best stalking the pace and coming with one run."
Tar Heel Mom, conditioned by Stanley Hough, could improve her record over the Aqueduct main track to three wins from four starts. A four-length victress of the In Her Glory at the Big A in November, the 5-year-old has placed in graded stakes in her last three starts, including a second to Warbling in the Grade 2 Inside Information at Gulfstream on March 14 last time out. Leading rider Ramon Dominguez has the mount aboard Tar Heel Mom, who has been given a 117-pound impost and will leave from post No. 3 as the 2-1 morning-line favorite.
Peachtree Stable's Matchless Orinda, heroine of the What a Summer at
Completing the field Strut the Canary and Thunders Dove, who drew posts No. 1 and 2, respectively. Strut the Canary invades from Laurel Park off a victory in a
The field for the 56th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Distaff Handicap:
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | Odds |
| 1 | Strut the Canary (KY) | M | 114 | T J Tullock, Jr. | 15-1 |
| 2 | Thunders Dove (KY) | C H Velasquez | 115 | N P Zito | 8-1 |
| 3 | Tar Heel Mom (KY) | R A Dominguez | 117 | S M Hough | 2-1 |
| 4 | Hour Glass (KY) | D Cohen | 116 | T A Pletcher | 5-2 |
| 5 | Matchless | J R Velazquez | 116 | M D Wolfson | 3-1 |
| 6 | Justwhistledixie (KY) | J Lezcano | 119 | W I Mott | 4-1 |
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