Preakness Undercard: Turf Suits World Approval in $250,000 Longines Dixie (G2)

By David Joseph —-

Turf Suits World Approval in $250,000 Longines Dixie (G2)

BALTIMORE – Live Oak Plantation homebred World Approval flashed his Grade 1-winning form Saturday at historic Pimlico Race Course, sitting just off the lead until taking over at the head of the stretch and sprinting clear to a 2 ¼-length triumph in the $250,000 Longines Dixie (G2).

Inaugurated in 1870, the 116th running of the Dixie for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on the turf was the last of seven undercard stakes, four graded, on a spectacular 14-race program that supported the 142nd renewal of the Preakness Stakes (G1).

Ridden by Julien Leparoux for trainer Mark Casse, who were to team up one race later with 2016 juvenile champion Classic Empire in the Preakness, 5-year-old World Approval ($7) completed the distance in 1:43.15 over a turf course rated good.

It was just the second race since mid-October for World Approval, who was scratched from a planned start in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) on the undercard of the May 6 Kentucky Derby (G1) when the Churchill Downs course came up soft.

“He’s a nice horse. We got a perfect trip today – the ideal trip, anyway – and he kicked on at the end,” Leparoux said. “The track was ideal for him. He didn’t mind it, so we are very happy about the win.”

Breaking from Post 2 as the 5-2 favorite in a field of 10 older horses, World Approval settled off the right hip of 17-1 long shot Security Risk through an opening quarter-mile in 24.12 seconds and a half in 49.43. They were still 1-2 after six furlongs in 1:13.94 before Leparoux gave World Approval his cue, powering down the stretch to his fourth career graded win and first since the United Nations (G1) last July.

“There was not too much speed in the race so the plan was to be right up there and relax, and kick on at the end,” Leparoux said. “By the three-eighths pole he started grabbing the bit and finished up strong.”

Projected, one of two horses trained by defending Dixie winner Chad Brown, tracked World Approval throughout but couldn’t keep up with the winner late and wound up second, 2 ¼ lengths ahead of Blacktype. It was another 1 ¼ lengths back to Projected’s stablemate Catapult in fourth.

The Dixie marked the first time since World Approval’s 3-year-old season that the Northern Afleet gelding won back-to-back races, having taken the Turf Classic for Florida-breds April 2 at Tampa Bay Downs.

World Approval earned $150,000 for his eighth victory from 20 career starts, pushing his bankroll over the $1 million mark to $1,103,763.

Longines Dixie Stakes (G2) Quotes

Winning Trainer Mark Casse (World Approval): “I just said (to Julien Leparoux), ‘We want to be close.’ That’s all. This horse got into trouble a couple of times getting too far back. And he’s gotten to where he’s got a little gas now.

“We had him in at Churchill Downs (G1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic). But I was really, really worried. That turf was really soft. I said to Mrs. (Charlotte) Weber, ‘Hey, let’s wait two weeks and run at Pimlico.’ And she was good with it.

“I’d been watching it [the turf], and it was nowhere near as soft like Churchill was.

“The mare is unbelievable.” (Note: World Approval’s dam, Win Approval, is also the dam of champion Miesque’s Approval, as well as multiple graded-stakes winners Revved Up and Za Approval

Winning Jockey Julien Leparoux (World Approval): “That’s what [the trip] looked like on paper. He was very comfortable, very relaxed laying second and he kicked on at the end. He’s a nice horse, and we went slow for the half and he was doing it very easy and kicked on nice. The one turn over there is a little bit slippery, other than that it feels pretty good. Around the three-eighths I tried to keep him together, tried to go around the turn very nicely, and he kicked on in the straight. He was really good last year. Maybe one or two races weren’t that good, but he won a Grade 1 last year. This year I think he’s the same or better, and we’ll have a good year with him.”

“He was relaxed and I knew he was going to finish. After that it was a question if someone could out-kick him. But going that slow and the kick he has at the end, it’s tough for the ones from behind to catch him.”

Trainer Chad Brown (Projected, 2nd; Catapult, 4th): “Projected got a really good trip. I’m disappointed that Catapult never got early position. It was a slow pace and the race didn’t unfold the way I wanted. Projected ran very well. He just couldn’t kick with World Approval who is a really nice horse.

Jockey Joel Rosario (Projected, 2nd): “I had a very good inside trip. My horse tried really hard. I think he was just second best today. World Approval you know what he’s done before. He’s a very good horse.”

Jockey Jose Ortiz (Blacktype, 3rd): “We got a perfect trip and saved all the ground. I just followed Projected and he closed really good. He just couldn’t get there today.”

Cover Photo: World Approval; MJC Photo

About Pimlico Race Course
Historic Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness® Stakes, the middle jewel in horse racing’s famed Triple Crown, first opened its doors on October 25, 1870, and is the second oldest racetrack in the United States. Pimlico has played host to racing icons and Baltimoreans have seen the likes of legendary horses such as Man o’ War, Seabiscuit, Secretariat, Affirmed and Cigar thunder down the stretch in thrilling and memorable competition. For more information on Pimlico, visit www.pimlico.com.
Pimlico Race Course is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America’s top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world’s largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.