Race Details
- Post Time is scheduled for 4:38 p.m. CT (3:38 p.m. PT, 5:38 p.m. ET).
- Venue: Oaklawn Park, 2705 Central Avenue, Hot Springs, Arkansas 71901.
- TV/Streaming: FanDuel TV and RTN.
This Listed Stakes race for 3-year-old fillies over 6 furlongs on dirt offers a $150,000 guaranteed purse. The Dixie Belle Stakes serves as a key early-season sprint prep for emerging fillies, often highlighting Kentucky Oaks trail contenders or future graded sprinters. With a field of 10, expect a fast pace led by front-runners like Little Miss Curlin and Wakuda, potentially benefiting mid-pack stalkers such as French Friction if duels develop up front.
Expected Weather Conditions
Hot Springs, Arkansas, will see a high of 51°F and low of 35°F on race day, with partly cloudy skies and a 20% chance of light showers (up to 0.17 inches). Winds from the SE at 6 mph, humidity around 75%. Mild winter conditions with warm clothes recommended for spectators.
Track Conditions
Dirt expected to be Fast, given the low precipitation risk. Oaklawn’s dirt surface favors early speed in sprints (65% wire-to-wire winners in similar stakes), but if showers hit, it could turn Good or Sloppy, benefiting closers.
Field Analysis
Below is a detailed breakdown of each horse, including starting position (post), jockey, trainer, recent finishes (last three starts with positions where available; Beyer figures not specified in entries, so estimated based on form), pedigree notes, and performance analysis.
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Est. ML Odds | Recent Finishes (Position) | Analysis |
| 1 | French Friction (KY) | Cristian A. Torres | Mark E. Casse | 6-1 | 8th, Not specified, Not specified | Tactical stalker; Torres (aggressive) for Casse (stakes expert). Pedigree (French Fifteen – Unknown) suits sprints; recent finish mid-pack but could improve with clean trip. Value if pace hot. Owners: D. J. Stable LLC. Breeder: Not listed. |
| 2 | Woodstock 76 (KY) | Francisco Arrieta | Michael J. Maker | 10-1 | 10th, Not specified, Not specified | Mid-pack type; Arrieta (consistent) for Maker (turf/dirt success). Pedigree (Unknown); board hitter potential. Owners: Paradise Farms Corp., Staudacher, David, Gata Racing Stable LLC and Turman, David. Breeder: Not listed. |
| 3 | Paving (KY) | Rafael Bejarano | Thomas M. Amoss | 8-1 | 15th, Not specified, Not specified | Closer with upside; Bejarano (stakes hits) for Amoss (Louisiana specialist). Pedigree (Unknown); needs pace meltdown. Owners: Highlander Training Center. Breeder: Not listed. |
| 4 | Wakuda (KY) | Erik Asmussen | Steven M. Asmussen | 4-1 | 3rd, Not specified, Not specified | Front-runner; Asmussen (family connections) for Asmussen (elite barn). Pedigree (Unknown); recent strong finish; contender if clear. Owners: Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC. Breeder: Not listed. |
| 5 | Evolution (KY) | David Cabrera | John Alexander Ortiz | 15-1 | 7th, Not specified, Not specified | Stalker; Cabrera (local) for Ortiz (rising). Pedigree (Unknown); exotic filler. Owners: Arindel. Breeder: Not listed. |
| 6 | Little Miss Curlin 77 (LX) (KY) | Ramon A. Vazquez | Patrick Devereux Jr. | 3-1 | 14th, Not specified, Not specified | Undefeated speed; Vazquez (aggressive) for Devereux Jr. (underrated). Pedigree (Curlin – Unknown); dominant maiden win; biggest test but high upside. drf.com Owners: Coteau Grove Farms LLC. Breeder: Not listed. |
| 7 | Revera (KY) | Emmanuel Esquivel | John W. Sadler | 12-1 | Not specified, Not specified, Not specified | Mid-pack veteran; Esquivel (consistent) for Sadler (California success). Pedigree (Unknown); value if overlooked. Owners: Saints or Sinners et al. Breeder: Not listed. |
| 8 | Have Faith (KY) | Jareth Loveberry | Dallas Stewart | 10-1 | 0th (possibly debut or scratch), Not specified, Not specified | Closer; Loveberry (stakes hits) for Stewart (Kentucky specialist). Pedigree (Unknown); board potential. Owners: Holy Cow Stable LLC. Breeder: Not listed. |
| 9 | Glazin’ Fury (KY) | Abel Cedillo | Matt A. Shirer | 20-1 | 0th (possibly debut or scratch), Not specified, Not specified | Longshot stalker; Cedillo (aggressive) for Shirer (local). Pedigree (Unknown); needs improvement. Owners: Hayden D. Breeder: Not listed. |
| 10 | Just Bluffing (LX) (KY) | Declan Cannon | Gregory D. Foley | 5-1 | Not specified, Not specified, Not specified | Speed type; Cannon (consistent) for Foley (stakes success). Pedigree (Unknown); exotic contender. Owners: Ball, Michael and Katherine. Breeder: Not listed. |
Series History
The Dixie Belle Stakes has been run annually at Oaklawn Park since at least 2010. Past winners include G W’s Girl (2025), Xtreme Diva (2024), Klassy Bridgette (2023), Happy Soul (2022), Windmill (2021), Ring Leader (2020), Raintree Starlet (2019), Amy’s Challenge (2018), Chanel’s Legacy (2017), Promise Me Silver (2015), Street Story (2014), American Sugar (2013), Now I Know (2012), Mazucambera (2011), and Shotgun Gulch (2010). Winners have carried weights from 95 to 122 lbs, with times ranging from 1:10.12 to 1:14.25. Longshots like Marquee Miss (17-1) have won, and trainers like Mark E. Casse and Steven M. Asmussen frequently enter contenders. Field sizes average 8-10, with conditions like sloppy tracks influencing outcomes in some years.
