Deceptive Vision Returns to Dirt in Doubledogdare

Sam-Son Farm’s Deceptive Vision has not raced on dirt since February 2013 at Fair Grounds, but on the dirt is where she will be Friday when she makes her 2015 debut in the Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare (G3) at 1 1/16 miles.

“She’s a very nice filly and she won twice on the dirt in New Orleans,” trainer Malcolm Pierce said. “She performs equally well on both turf and dirt and I figured this was a little easier spot than the (April 11) Jenny Wiley, which was a Grade 1.

“I had two spots in mind and opted for the dirt.”

John Velazquez will ride the 5-year-old Canadian-bred mare for the first time Friday in what Pierce hopes will be the kick off to a huge year on the grass.

“(Woodbine has) a pretty good turf series that starts at the end of May,” Pierce said. “I would like to get three races in at Woodbine to be eligible for a Sovereign Award.”

Pierce has another Sam-Son runner slated for a 2015 debut on Saturday with Aldous Snow in the $250,000 Dixiana Elkhorn (G2) at 1½ miles on the turf.

“The weather is really against us,” Pierce said referring to a stormy forecast for the next couple of days in the Lexington area. “He doesn’t like soft turf; with him, the firmer the better.”

Source: Keeneland Association