Toxis Rallies Boldly at Fair Grounds

Dixiana Farms’ Toxis, a 3-year-old daughter of 2008 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, rallied boldly outside the leaders in mid-stretch and was up to best Richard, Bertram and Elaine Klein’s Ocean Bertie by a half-length in Sunday’s $46,000 mile and 70-yard feature for maiden sophomore fillies at Fair Grounds.

Trained by Steve Margolis and ridden by seven-time Fair Grounds jockey champion Robby Albarado, Toxis toured the distance in 1:44.79, returned mutuels of $13.20, $6.20 and $3.60 and increased her career earnings to $48,928 with her first win in five lifetime starts.

Ocean Bertie, also trained by Margolis, was allowed to settle early, rallied to take command in upper stretch, could not withstand the winner in the final sixteenth but clearly held the place, finishing 2 1/2-lengths to the good of Louie Roussel III’s Cherishd Obsession, who pressed the pace but had no late rally.

Ocean Bertie paid $5.40 and $3 in the place position and Cherishd Obsession returned $2.60 to show.

Stoneway Farm’s Play Soleil set the early fractions of 24.47 and 48.63 before tiring.

Racing resumes Wednesday at Fair Grounds with a nine-race program beginning at 12:40 p.m.