Captain Dixie Looks to Break Through in Commonwealth Turf

 

Fresh off an Oct. 25 allowance victory at Keeneland, Randal Family Trust’s Captain Dixie will seek an upset win in Saturday’s $100,000-added Commonwealth Turf (Grade III) beneath the Twin Spires.

 

Trained by Kellyn Gorder, Captain Dixie finished second beaten four lengths behind Heart to Heart in the Sept. 14 Jefferson Cup (GIII) at Churchill. Captain Dixie was made the 8-1 co-third choice along with Hesinfront, while Heart to Heart received morning-line odds of 8-5 as the favorite for Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile turf event.

 

Following the runner-up Jefferson Cup performance, Gorder sought an allowance race at Keeneland as a prep event for the Commonwealth Turf but drew on the also-eligible list for that allowance contest, leaving the conditioner frustrated.

 

“At Keeneland I didn’t even think he was going to get in the field for that last race,” Gorder said. “We were stuck on the also-eligible list and I was pretty upset. We had waited for that race to use it as a prep for the Commonwealth Turf, so I was a little frustrated, but luckily we drew in and were able to win that one.”

 

After a pair of scratches, the 3-year-old son of Henrythenavigator drew into the field and won the one-mile turf allowance breaking from the 11-post in the 12-horse field. He is in a similar scenario Saturday as he will break from post position 10 out of a 13-horse field.

 

“I’m hoping he has a similar trip that he did last time,” Gorder said. “He drew the 11-hole for his last race and he’s in the 10-hole here. This field obviously is a lot tougher than the last race but I don’t mind being a little bit outside; hopefully it will keep us out of trouble in the early stages.”

 

Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. rode Captain Dixie in his last two outings but opted to ride in Maryland stakes engagements on Saturday. Gorder gave the mount to Shaun Bridgmohan, who had the opportunity to get a feel for Captain Dixie on Tuesday, breezing the colt a half-mile in :50.60 on the turf.

 

“I lost Ricardo,” Gorder said. “He’s going to be riding up at Laurel on Saturday but Shaun is a very suitable replacement. Shaun got a feel for him earlier this week and breezed him an easy half on the turf. I feel good about the spot we’re in. He seems to have improved from his last start and gained a little confidence so hopefully he can run a big one on Saturday.”

 

With a record of 2-2-1 from seven starts and earnings of $127,553, Captain Dixie will seek his first stakes victory in Saturday’s Commonwealth Turf, the co-featured seventh of 10 races with an approximate post time of 3:37 p.m. ET.

 

Source: Churchill Downs Communications