Oaklawn Park: How to bet the 2022 Dixie Belle Stakes

An excellent cast of eight three-year-old fillies will travel six furlongs in the $150,000 Dixie Belle S. at Oaklawn Park on Saturday. Half of the field has earned a prior stakes victory, with two making good in the graded ranks, to help make this a very good betting affair with numerous logical options.

There is a considerable amount of pace in the dash and I believe that will aid the horses coming from off the early tempo. Two contenders with good value attached to them in particular, both hailing from the barn of Brad Cox, are of particular interest to me.

#6 Com’ On Sweet Luv (8-1) has been first or second in each of her three lifetime tries to date, with a second in the Letellier Memorial S. at Fair Grounds last out behind subsequent Forward Gal S. (G3) heroine Girl With a Dream. The daughter of Jimmy Creed shows six morning drills in anticipation of her three-year-old debut, and I expect her to make a big run late. Francisco Arrieta takes the mount.

#1 Icy Stare Down (5-1) lacks the credentials of her more accomplished foes, being just a maiden vixen from two career efforts, but I love how the daughter of Frosted graduated on the course in December and will give her a chance in here at a nice price. The $425,000 two-year-old purchase made good over a muddy, sealed oval in her last performance, and the gray has trained forwardly in the interim as well. The Ontario-bred possesses a good turn of foot and will be saving ground throughout from the rail with Ricardo Santana in the stirrups.

Adirondack S. (G2) queen #3 Wicked Halo (5-2), Astoria S. romper #5 Happy Soul (9-5), and Schuylerville S. (G3) star #7 Pretty Birdie (5-1) all will be formidable with a top showing and sensible voyage, and I can’t dismiss any of the talented trio. But I am having a hard time separating the three speedsters, so I will lump them together as my wagering strategy.

Dixie Belle Wagers

• $1 trifecta 1, 6 with 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 with 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 ($24)
• $1 trifecta 3, 5, 7 with 1, 6 with 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 ($18)