The smile lingered on Dale Desruisseaux’s face as he talked about Dixie Law. There was pride in his voice, a touch of nerves too, but mostly the kind of quiet excitement that only comes when a horse offers a trainer a glimpse of something bigger. For Desruisseaux, already enjoying his best season, Saturday’s $500,000 Grade 1 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes at Woodbine could be the crowning achievement of his career.
“It would be a career highlight,” he admitted. “It’s a Grade 1 and a ‘Win and You’re In.’ It would be pretty exciting, for sure.”
The Natalma Stakes, for two-year-old fillies, carries both prestige and consequence. Run for the first time over one mile on Woodbine’s inner turf, it doubles as a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race, offering the winner a paid berth in the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar this autumn.
A Breakout Season for Desruisseaux
Desruisseaux, who has already set personal bests in wins (13) and earnings ($464,806) this year, is riding a wave of momentum. His three-year-old colt Church and State landed both the Toronto Cup and King Corrie Stakes at Woodbine earlier in the season. Yet the Natalma presents a different kind of opportunity — his first graded stakes victory, with a filly he has nurtured since March.
“She’s been a plus since she’s got here,” Desruisseaux said of Dixie Law, a daughter of Tiz the Law out of Bit of Dixie. “She was one of the bigger two-year-olds in the barn this spring. She’s filled out, blossomed over the summer. I think she’ll be even bigger and better next year.”
Dixie Law has raced only once, but she left an impression. On July 12, she stormed home from mid-pack to win a maiden special weight over six furlongs, showcasing the late kick her trainer believes will serve her well over a mile.
A Setback, Then a Fresh Start
Her progression wasn’t seamless. Dixie Law was scratched out of last month’s Catch A Glimpse Stakes after falling sick on entry day. “It was unfortunate,” Desruisseaux said. “But she’s had really good breezes since, and we’re excited to get going.”
Should she prevail on Saturday, the conversation will quickly shift to the Breeders’ Cup. “It would be huge,” the trainer admitted. “Opportunities like that don’t come along often.”
The International Challenge
Standing in her way is an imposing international rival. Charlie Appleby ships unbeaten Dance To The Music (GB), a Godolphin homebred who impressed in the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket. The Dubawi filly is a full-sister to Breeders’ Cup Mile hero Space Blues.
“This will be her first run around a turn, but she’s done everything right at home,” Appleby noted. “We come with plenty of confidence.”
Field for the Grade 1 $500,000 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes (Race 8)
1 – Corsia Veloce – Fraser Aebly – Josie Carroll
2 – Pina Colada – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse
3 – Sweet Fusion – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
4 – Dixie Law – Rafael Hernandez – Dale Desruisseaux
5 – Dance To The Music (GB) – William Buick – Charlie Appleby
6 – Hot Mash – Joel Rosario – John Servis
7 – Star Attraction – Pietro Moran – Kevin Attard
8 – Dyna – John Velazquez – Kevin Attard
9 – La Culasse (S) – Lanfranco Dettori – Kevin Attard
10 – Deep Learning – Flavien Prat – Chad Brown
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