DIXIE BELLE STAKES

Misstep doesn't trip up run of Amy's Challenge

HOT SPRINGS -- Despite a slight bobble at the start, Amy's Challenge overcame a four-month, four-day layoff and the fast pace of 4-5 favorite Mia Mischief to win the $125,000 6-furlong Dixie Belle Stakes for 3-year-old fillies by a neck.

The winning time of 1:10.61 was run in front of an estimated 8,750 at Oaklawn Park on Saturday.

"It was a really fun race, to be honest with you," Mia Mischief's jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. said. "You know, it was pretty amazing."

Amy's Challenge, by Artie Shiller, was fifth in the field of six after her misstep out of the gate. Mia Mischief was second behind early front-runner Vision of Justice but led by one-half length through the first quarter in 21.48, with Vision of Justice a head in front of Amy's Challenge in third.

By the half, Amy's Challenge, trained by Mac Robertson with jockey Jareth Loveberry aboard, had moved into second, a head behind Mia Mischief in 44.49 and 3 lengths clear of long-shot Secret Passion. Vision of Justice had dropped to fourth, 7 lengths off the lead.

Mia Mischief, a Steve Asmussen trainee by Into Mischief, remained a head in front of Amy's Challenge at the head of the stretch. Secret Passion was in third, 3½ lengths back and 3 lengths ahead of Getupbabygetup in fourth.

A match race seemed to have formed in front, and the two leaders were separated by little more than a head bob to the finish. The final result was in doubt as they passed the 1/16th pole. Still a head back, Amy's Challenge seemed to gain momentum with 50 yards left, and she advanced past Mia Mischief in the final strides.

Secret Passion finished third. Getupbabygetup was fourth.

"Digging with that horse head and head, my horse showed enough heart to finish just a little bit better," Loveberry said. "She finished strong, but that was a race. That was a race.

"When we turned for home, he hasn't asked and I haven't asked, and I know it's going to be a hard stretch run. My horse just showed so much heart."

It wasn't the first time Amy's Challenge had taken a leading role. Her performances at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn., late in the summer were enough to draw attention and eventually enough money at Oaklawn to send her off as the Dixie Belle's 7-5 second choice.

She ran against males in both of her 2-year-old starts, the first a 16-furlong romp over other maidens at 5½ furlongs in 1:03.8 on Aug. 6, and the second a three-quarter-length victory in the $75,000 6-furlong Shakopee Juvenile Stakes in 1:09.4 on Sept. 16. The latter earned her the top speed figures among Dixie Belle entrants.

The most significant question concerned her time off after the Shakopee victory. Robertson said he hoped to race Amy's Challenge at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., but she tied up at the track before he had entered her to race. Robertson instead shipped her to a farm near Mount Ida to give her unfettered time off headed into what could be a long, hard campaign against 3-year-olds.

Recent training sessions for Amy's Challenge seemed to bespeak her soundness. She trained through half miles at Oaklawn in December, in order, of 48.4 and 47.8, the latter the track's best work among 70 horses. Two 5-furlong works of 1:01.4 this month spoke to her fitness.

According to Robertson, Amy's Challenge needed every bit of it. He said he hopes she can race over two turns to have a chance to reach the Kentucky Oaks. Oaklawn's first Road-to-the-Oaks points race is the 1-mile Martha Washington Stakes on Feb. 10. Robertson said that may be too soon.

"I would hope I can stretch her out, but I don't know if I can come back in three weeks," he said.

Several minutes later, Robertson said the Martha Washington remains the target for Amy's Challenge.

"She's here, and I think she'll stretch out," he said. "How much does she have to do after a race like this? I mean, maybe after an easy half-mile, she'll be sitting on go again. I probably won't have to do a lot with her."

Sports on 01/21/2018

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