Street Story travels high way to victory

HOT SPRINGS - Street Story took the lead in midstretch and held off Questlie by a length to win the $100,000 Dixie Belle Stakes for 3-year-old filly sprinters Friday afternoon at Oaklawn Park.

Ricardo Santana Jr., Oaklawn’s leading jockey last year, rode the winner for trainer Steve Asmussen, who also captured the Dixie Belle in 2000 with Secret Sip and 2005 with More Moonlight.

Questlie finished 1¼ lengths ahead of Racing Holiday, who was followed by Xray Vision, Zip On, Denali Cat Tale, Wicked Dixie, 2-1 favorite More Than Beauty and Silver Valley, who was distanced.

A foul claim by the rider of Racing Holiday, Alex Canchari, against the winner for alleged interference midway on the turn was disallowed by stewards.

Street Story paid $7.20, $4.60 and $3.20. Questlie paid $11.60 and $6.20. Racing Holiday paid $11.40.

The winner covered 6 furlongs over a sloppy track in 1:14.25.

Street Story, a daughter of Street Cry out of Perfect Story - a half sister to champion Point Given - increased her career earnings to $98,350 after her first career stakes victory, and second victory from four lifetime starts.

“Just glad to see it official,” Asmussen said, referring to the objection. “She’s a very important filly to us - lot of pedigree, beautiful filly. I hope this is the first step in a very good career for her.”

Breaking from post 8,Street Story tracked a :46.58 half-mile by Zip On before moving toward the lead with a four-wide bid turning for home.

Street Story, like winners earlier on the card, raced well off the rail.

“A lot of speed in the race,” Asmussen said. “I thought Ricardo did a really good job with her today. We were really fortunate with the draw. He took advantage of where she was at and she ran really well.”

Street Story was coming off a runner-up finish in the $48,000 Letellier Memorial on Dec. 21 at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

Future plans for Street Story, a $155,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sales purchase, are pending, Asmussen said.

The filly races for Whispering Oaks Farm LLC (Carrol Castille). Castille is a prominent Louisiana breeder.

Sports, Pages 19 on 01/11/2014

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