Dixieland kicks off Oaklawn Park meet

Arkansas track, located in the heart of Hot Springs National Park, will feature

27 stakes races, nine graded, worth $4.475 million. In addition, Oaklawn Park

will offer record daily purses during the 56-date meet, which concludes with the

$1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) on April 14.

"We are looking forward to a successful and exiting season of racing,"

Oaklawn Park Racing Secretary Pat Pope said. "Our daily purse distribution will

average $300,000, and more than 1,300 of our 1,400 stalls are presently

occupied. I expect the rest will be filled by the weekend."

The $50,000

Dixieland S. for three-year-olds is the opening-day feature, and

a full field of 13 has been entered in the 5 1/2-furlong dash. Leading

contenders include GO POPPA FOOZE (Exciting Story), who set a fast pace before

fading to seventh in the Delta Jackpot S. (G3); OFFICER ROCKET (GB) (Officer),

dead-heat winner of the Arlington-Washing Breeders' Cup Futurity (G3); TORTUGA

STRAITS (Gold Tribute), an undefeated multiple stakes winner; and WESTWON (Gone

West), a Keeneland maiden winner trained by D. Wayne Lukas.

The road for three-year-olds pointing toward the Triple Crown continues with

the $250,000 Southwest S. on February 19, the $300,000 Rebel S. (G3)

on March 17 and concludes with the Arkansas Derby. The Arkansas Derby has

been won in the past three years by sophomores who have gone on to take two of

the three legs of the Triple Crown -- Smarty Jones and Afleet Alex,

respectively.

As always, the Racing Festival of the South is the highlight of the season.

This year, the Racing Festival of the South begins with the $250,000 Fantasy

S. (G2) on April 6, followed by the $500,000 Apple Blossom H. (G1) and $500,000

Oaklawn H. (G2) on April 7, the $150,000 Count Fleet H. (G3) on April 13, and

the Arkansas Derby, which wraps up the prestigious event.

Other important races are the $100,000 Essex H. (G3) on February 10, the

$150,000 Razorback Breeders' Cup H. (G3) on March 9, and the $175,000 Azeri

Breeders' Cup S. (G3) on March 10.

This year, Oaklawn Park will take entries at least 72 hours in advance of

race day. In the past, the track operated on a 48-hour entry schedule.