Oaklawn Park canceled a second day of live racing Friday, citing unsafe track conditions.
Temperatures reached record lows Tuesday and Wednesday and were only slightly warmer Thursday. The track had not thawed completely and the decision was made to cancel racing Thursday and Friday for the safety of the horses and horsemen. Oaklawn remained open for gaming and simulcast racing both days
Live racing is scheduled to resume today with a nine-race card starting at 1:05 p.m.
The featured $125,000 Dixie Belle, first stakes race of the meeting for 3-year-old fillies, represents the seasonal debut for undefeated Amy's Challenge, whose two victories last year were against males at Canterbury Park in Minnesota. The daughter of Breeders' Cup Mile winner Artie Schiller posted speed figures of 91 and 92, the second in the $75,000 Shakopee Juvenile after winning her Aug. 6 debut by 16 1/2 lengths.
"The only reason I ran her against males at Canterbury was I had some decent fillies, not like her, but that I thought could win," said trainer Mac Robertson, specifically mentioning another debut winner, Glamorized. "They got ready at the same time, so it made sense to run Glamorized against fillies and Amy's Challenge against boys. I thought she could win wherever I ran her."
As for beating males a second time, "There wasn't a filly stake; there was only a boys' stake," Robertson said, referring to Canterbury. "Obviously, everybody wants to stay home. It made sense. With 2-year-olds, I think, maybe in the summer there are some fillies just as fast as boys, anyway."
Jareth Loveberry stays aboard Amy's Challenge, the 3-2 program favorite, from post six in the six-furlong Dixie Belle, won last year by the Lynn Chleborad-trained Chanel's Legacy.
Mia Mischief also risks an unbeaten record for Hall of fame trainer Steve Asmussen, whose Terra Promessa (2016) and Ever So Clever have won the last two runnings of Oaklawn's Grade 3 Fantasy. Ricardo Santana Jr. rides Mia Mischief, the projected 9-5 second choice, from post five.
A speed duel is possible between Amy's Challenge and Mia Mischief, prompting Robertson to say, "I'm glad I'm outside Asmussen."
Completing the field from the rail out are Getupbabygetup, Channing Hill aboard, at 15-1 on the morning line; Secret Passion, Edwin Maldonado, 12-1; Vision of Justice, Mike Luzzi, 5-1; Thoughtless Doll, C.J. McMahon, 15-1; and Minit to Stardom, Gary Stevens, 6-1. Getupbabygetup and Thoughtless Doll each carries 114 pounds while the others receive 119 under the race's allowance conditions.
Post time for the Dixie Belle, race 8, is 4:38 p.m.
Sports on 01/20/2018