Dixie

Better Talk Now (middle) captured the Dixie in his third try (Patrick Tyrrell/Horsephotos.com) For the first 1 1/16 miles of Saturday's $250,000 Dixie S. (G2) at Pimlico, Bushwood Racing Partners' BETTER TALK NOW (Talkin Man) looked as though he wouldn't get a word in edgewise in his seasonal reappearance, but in the final sixteenth, the seven-year-old gelding spoke loud and clear. Steered between rivals by regular rider Ramon Dominguez, the veteran Graham Motion charge found his best stride late to get up by a head, finishing the 1 1/8 miles on the firm turf in 1:48 2/5 to win his first Dixie in his third try. As expected, Better Talk Now's entrymate Shake the Bank (Sandpit [Brz]) grabbed the early lead as the eventual winner settled into his customary trailing position. Stumbling at the start, the pacemaker regrouped slowly to get the opening quarter in a dawdling :25 but then took off through fractions of :48 1/5 and 1:12. The 1-2 favorite Artie Schiller (El Prado [Ire]) lay in wait in second and, exiting the far turn, he surged past the longtime front runner to establish a commanding two-length advantage in midstretch, getting the mile in 1:37. Inside the final furlong, though, Artie Schiller started to tread water, and Dreadnaught (Lac Ouimet) made smart progress to challenge on the outside. Better Talk Now had advanced steadily into third, and in deep stretch, he drove between the favorite to his inside and Dreadnaught to his outside to snatch the victory on the line. Dreadnaught was a neck in front of Artie Schiller, who had 3 1/4 lengths to spare over fourth-placer Sabre d'Argent (Kris S.). "He split horses very gamely," Dominguez said. "There wasn't a whole lot of room. He certainly ran a huge race, especially off the layoff."

"(Better Talk Now) is so honest," Motion said. "I mean, what more can I say

about him. This isn't his distance, don't forget. I felt about as confident

today as I've felt for a while."

Dispatched at a lukewarm 7-2, Better Talk Now returned $9.40, $5 and $2.60.

The 12-1 Dreadnaught gave back $9 and $3.60 while rounding out the $70.40

exacta. Artie Schiller paid $2.10, ending the $108.20 trifecta. With the 13-1

Sabre d'Argent in fourth, the 1-2-6-4 superfecta ($1) was worth $233.70.

Rebel Rebel (Ire) (Revoque) was fifth, Shake the Bank sixth and Dr Detroit

(Wayne County [Ire]) last.

This was the winner's first race back since traveling to Japan last November

for the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1), in which he wound up 12th. In posting his eighth

stakes win, Better Talk Now boosted his earnings to $2,772,077 from a record of

33-12-5-2. Among his most notable scores are the 2004 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1)

and Sword Dancer Invitational H. (G1) as well as the 2005 United Nations S. (G1)

and Man o' War S. (G1). The dark bay was running in the Dixie for the third year

in a row, managing only ninth in 2004 and fourth last year, after which his

connections acquired Shake the Bank to ensure an honest pace for the late

closer.

Bred by Wimborne Farm in Kentucky, Better Talk Now went through the auction

ring as a weanling, RNA'ing for $10,500 at the 1999 Keeneland November sale. His

dam, the stakes-placed Bendita (Baldski), has also produced 2004 Caesar Rodney

H. winner and Grade 2-placed B. A. Way (Lasting Approval), Grade 3-placed Beat

the Play (Defensive Play), an unraced juvenile colt named Better Be Ready (More

Than Ready) and an unnamed yearling filly by Indian Charlie.