BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Dancing N Dixie will take her come-from-behind running style to the undulating turf course at Kentucky Downs Wednesday where the Florida-bred filly runs in the $1.6 million Pepsi Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational. Set at a mile-and-five-sixteenths, the Dueling Grounds Oaks has attracted an overflow field of 15 sophomore fillies including three on the also eligible list.
While running over the tear drop-shaped course will be new for Dancing N Dixie and most of the others, the Mark Casse trainee will be facing familiar rivals in 7-2 morning line favorite Kathrynmarissa and Mo Fox Givin, who is 12-1 in the program.
Dancing N Dixie was a neck faster than runner-up Mo Fox Givin and Kathrynmarrissa, who was another half-length back in third, when winning the $233,000 Tepin going a mile on the turf at Churchill Downs on June 29. However, she was third behind second-place finisher Kathrynmarissa last out in the Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational won by Cinderella’s Dream (GB) going a mile-and-three-sixteenths on the grass at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 2. Dancing N Dixie also finished third in the Grade 2 Appalachian presented by Japan Racing Association won by Buchu with Mo Fox Givin second going a mile-and-a-sixteenth at Keeneland on April 6.
Dancing N Dixie has two other third-place finishes against top-rated fillies on the turf this year in the Grade 2 Edgewood presented by twinspires.com at Churchill Downs on May 3 and in the Grade 3 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs on March 9.
Dancing N Dixie is owned by Gary Barber, Rocky Top Stable (Ventura) and LEMB Stables and was bred in Florida by the late Freddie Hyatt. She is by Neolithic, who stands at Pleasant Acres Stallions, and is out of Foolhearted Woman, by Uncaptured. She is a half-sister to R Morning Brew, who won the $100,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Desert Vixen at Gulfstream Park Saturday.
Since being purchased as a 2-year-old for $35,000 out of the Blue River Bloodstock consignment at last year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales June Sale, Dancing N Dixie has earned $368,550 from three wins and four thirds in 11 starts.
Dancing N Dixie will have the services of regular rider Jose Ortiz and they will break from the outside post 12. She is 6-1 on the morning line.
Trained by Richard Dutrow for Michael J. Caruso and Michael Dubb, Kathrynmarissa also makes her first start since the Saratoga Oaks.
By American Pharoah out of La Dalila (Chi), by Milt’s Overture, the bay filly has a career record of two wins, a second and two thirds with earnings of $232,285 and will be ridden by Frankie Dettori from post six.
Casse also trains Mo Fox Givin, who in one start since the Tepin, was third behind Waves of Mischief and Pin Up Betty in the Grade 3 Pucker Up going nine furlongs on the turf at Ellis Park on Aug. 4. Waves of Mischief and Pin Up Betty are also entered for the Dueling Grounds Oaks.
Owned by Gary Barber, Mo Fox Givin is by Mo Town out of Givine (Fr), by Blackdoun (Fr) and has won two with three seconds and two thirds in 11 starts while banking $296,350.
Luan Machado rides Mo Fox Givin from post 11.
Waves of Mischief will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione from post one and Pin Up Betty will carry Irad Ortiz Jr. from post nine.
Others set for the Dueling Grounds Oaks are Kalispera (Ire) and jockey Joel Rosario, Yatta with Flavien Prat aboard, Charlene’s Dream and rider Evan Roman, Florent Geroux rides Siege of Troy (GB), Shiloh’s Mistress has Luis Saez taking the call, Greenfinch with John Velazquez in the irons and Sakura Blossom and jockey Armando Ayuso. Sanctify, Mon Saint Michel (Fr) and Miss Hebrides are on the also-eligible list.
