Dixieland Darling gives Treasure Beach 42nd winner

Three days after Handsome Mike picked up his 42nd winner of 2020, Treasure Beach did likewise when Dixieland Darling broke her maiden at Tampa Bay Downs yesterday in her third start.

The 2-year-old filly bred by Joe and Helen Barbazon had to overcome being pinched between horses leaving the gate and dropping back to last in the seven-horse field. Jose Batista didn’t panic, though, and kept Dixieland Darling within hailing distance of the leaders down the backstretch in the 1 1/16th-mile race on the grass.

When even-money Spin Class began a three-wide move coming to the turn, Batista had his filly right on the favorite’s tail, and they moved to the lead together, with Dixieland Darling then proving best in the run to the wire. She won by 2 1/4 lengths, paid $10.60, and earned a check for $9,295 plus a breeder’s award for the owners of Pleasant Acres Stallions.