Looking to bring his sophomore season to a close the same way that he started his second season, James and Teri Blackman’s Dixies Boy came flying through the open stretch to post an impressive neck decision over six other Illinois conceived and foaled sophomores in Saturday’s $8,060 Xpressbet Stake at Balmoral Park.
The final time was 1:54.2 over the sloppy going.
Reserved through the early stages of the race by driver Casey Leonard as Earndawg (Ridge Warren) zipped through splits of :28.4, :57.3 and 1:25.3, Leonard moved the gelded son of Duneside Perch—Dingys Model into the outer flow as the field neared the top of the stretch.
Leonard then maneuvered the Joel Smith trainee, who was fit, fresh and loaded with pace, towards the inside where he spotted a seam along the pylons as the field hit the open stretch.
With clear sailing in front of them, Dixies Boy quickly swallowed up the pacesetter with 100 yards to go and began to draw clear in the shadow of the wire to notch his second straight win at Balmoral and his seventh win in 29 starts this year. Earndawg was forced to settle for the runner-up role on this night while Lucpark (Mike Oosting) rallied late to get the show dough.
After a quick start to his sophomore season then a bit of a “summer lull,” Dixies Boy now boasts career numbers of eight wins, five seconds and eight thirds in 36 starts with earnings of more than $55,000.
Sent off as a close second choice in the wagering, Dixies Boy returned $6.80, $4.00 and $3.20.
(With files from Balmoral Park)