A filly who carried high expectations throughout her 2-year-old season will step back onto the track this weekend when Dixie Law headlines Saturday’s $100,000 Ruling Angel Stakes Presented by Ketel One at Woodbine Racetrack.
The six-horse feature over seven furlongs on the main track marks the seasonal debut for the daughter of Tiz the Law, who closed her juvenile season as one of Canada’s most accomplished young fillies.
Woodbine Ruling Angel Stakes 2026.
Trained by Dale Desruisseaux for owner-breeder Garland Williamson, Dixie Law compiled three victories from five starts at two, highlighted by wins in the Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes and the Cup & Saucer Stakes.
Desruisseaux recalled noticing the filly’s potential almost immediately after she entered training.
“Right from her very first few breezes, you could tell she had something special,” he said. “That doesn’t always mean they go on to do what you believe they can, but with her, that was certainly the case.”
Dixie Law made her debut at Woodbine on July 12 and overcame inexperience to produce a strong late rally in a six-furlong turf event over the E.P. Taylor course. Sent off among the leading fancies, she scored by 1½ lengths despite showing signs of greenness in running.
“Going into that first race, we thought the distance was probably a little short for her,” Desruisseaux said. “She was very green that day, looking at the grandstand being on the E.P. Taylor, but after that race, our excitement grew even more.”
Her first venture into elite company came in the Natalma Stakes, where she finished sixth after meeting a highly competitive field over a mile on the inner turf.
A month later, however, Dixie Law announced herself as one of the country’s leading juvenile fillies with a determined victory in the $250,000 Cup & Saucer Stakes for Canadian-bred 2-year-olds. After a troubled beginning and traffic issues around the turn, she still managed to finish strongly over 1 1/16 miles.
“Visually, I would say the Cup & Saucer was her best win,” said Desruisseaux. “She had every excuse not to win that race. She broke horribly and had to find room around the turn but still continued on.”
The performance was followed by another major success in the Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes on Nov. 2. Regular rider Rafael Hernandez guided the bay filly to a measured victory after she took command turning for home in the 1 1/16-mile main-track contest.
“I thought that was her best race in that she proved herself,” Desruisseaux noted. “She didn’t get the pace setup she got in the Cup & Saucer, but with grit and determination, she found a way to win that race and win it in impressive fashion.”
Dixie Law ended her campaign with a fourth-place finish in the Coronation Futurity over nine furlongs before being sent to Florida for the winter at Paul Sharp’s farm.
According to Desruisseaux, the filly returned to training in excellent order ahead of her 3-year-old season.
“I went down a couple times to see her, and they did a great job with her,” he said. “She got up to me around March 1st in really good shape.”
The Woodbine Ruling Angel Stakes has now become her intended comeback assignment after a series of encouraging morning drills. Among six recorded works were a sharp bullet move in :47.20 on Apr. 4 and a four-furlong breeze in :49.00 on May 9.
Originally, connections had considered waiting for the Fury Stakes in June, but her progress altered those plans.
“We weren’t going to run her here,” Desruisseaux explained. “But the first time she worked, she was a lot further advanced, fitness-wise, than we anticipated. So, instead of breezing her another three or four more times, we felt she was ready for this race.”
He also pointed to her recovery rate as one of her defining qualities.
“One of her big attributes is that she recovers so well, mornings and afternoons,” he said. “I can still remember last year when she breezed on the grass in :58 and change, came off the track, took two deep breaths and that was it.”
Kyle MacDonald continues as the filly’s groom ahead of Saturday’s return.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to RaceBuzz