Utley Whistles Home in the Dixie

Unlike the Preakness one race later, The Dixie was a race that most saw as very wide open on paper. And it was, until Augustin Stable’s Utley stepped up and broke free from the rest in the late stages to triumph by one length in the 113th running of the $400,000 Dixie Stakes.

Trained by Jonathan Sheppard, Utley had not been to the winner’s circle in more than a year, but not for a lack of trying. Coming off a fast closing second at Churchill Downs in his most recent effort, his master conditioner had the experienced horse ready to run his best in the 1 1/16-mile, Grade 2 turf stakes.

Utley carried veteran rider Edgar Prado to the 7-1 mild upset victory while stopping the timer in 1:43.88 for the 8 ½ furlongs over the good turf. He paid $17.00 to win as the fifth betting choice in the field of ten. Second choice Hey Leroy edged out Chamois for second place money. Up With The Birds, the post time favorite, could muster no better than a 6th place finish, although beaten just over two lengths.

The victory was the 6th in 24 lifetime starts for the six-year-old son of Smart Strike, and by far his biggest to date. The winner’s share of $240,000 was more than Utley had earned in his previous 23 starts combined.