Four Dixie Belle Runners Return in Purple Martin Stakes

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Four Dixie Belle Runners Return in Purple Martin Stakes
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Photo: Coady Photography
Verylittlecents takes the 2021 Debutante Stakes at Ellis Park

Four beaten runners from the Feb. 19 Dixie Belle Stakes return in the March 21 $150,000 Purple Martin Stakes with their chances ultimately increased by the missing presence of the victorious Happy Soul .

The best of the Dixie Belle finishers was runner-up Verylittlecents , who despite encountering some traffic trouble in the stretch, secured the placing over the opposing Hypersport . Verylittlecents, campaigned by Randy Morse and trained by Randy Morse, was entering the Dixie Bell off a nearly three-month freshening. The 3-year-old daughter of Goldencents   was a stakes winner and multiple stakes-placed as a juvenile.

Jon Court again has the call on Saturday.

If Verylittlecents was the best then the unluckiest runner from the Dixie Belle was Winchell Thoroughbreds' homebred Wicked Halo . The winner of last summer's Adirondack Stakes (G2), a notorious frontrunner, walked out of the gates in the Dixie Belle and found herself trailing the field early. In a less than ideal position, the Gun Runner   filly was never able to get completely comfortable, though she did improve her position down the lane to check in fourth. The Steve Asmussen trainee will have to hope for a sharper break from the gate to see a return to form.

Shortleaf Stable's Como Square , most recently a distant third behind Secret Oath  in the two-turn Jan. 29 Martha Washington Stakes, shortens back up to six furlongs in the Purple Martin. Trained by Brad Cox, the Into Mischief   filly is 2-for-2 at sprint distances.

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Entries: Purple Martin S.

Oaklawn Park, Saturday, March 26, 2022, Race 9

  • STK
  • 6f
  • Dirt
  • $150,000
  • 3 yo Fillies
  • 5:10 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Wicked Halo (KY) Ramon A. Vazquez 119 Steven M. Asmussen 5/2
2 2Pretty Birdie (KY) David Cabrera 119 Norm W. Casse 4/1
3 3Como Square (KY) Ricardo Santana, Jr. 119 Brad H. Cox 3/1
4 4Hypersport (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Tiago Josue Pereira 117 Ingrid Mason 9/2
5 5Verylittlecents (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Jon Kenton Court 119 Randy L. Morse 3/1
6 6Misyneedsacocktail (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Elvin Gonzalez 117 McLean Robertson 8/1