BALTIMORE, MD., 05/16/15 – Light on experience and lacking any stakes credentials, Stuart Janney III’s homebred Ironicus did have one distinct advantage heading into Saturday’s $300,000 Longines Dixie Handicap (G2). 

Javier Castellano, the hottest jockey in Maryland on a steamy weekend at Pimlico Race Course, was on his back to guide Ironicus to a 2 ¾-length victory in the 114^th running of the 1 1/16-mile Dixie. 

It was just the eighth career start and first in a stakes for Ironicus ($16.20), most recently second by a half-length in an April 15 allowance over the soft turf at Keeneland. He emerged from a tight pack in mid-stretch to pull away from game long shot Cage Fighter to cover the distance in 1:40.53, only .21 seconds off the Pimlico turf course record set by Precious Kitten in 2007. 

“This race set up perfectly for us. In his last race, the leader just galloped and he made a run but didn’t have a chance to win,” Castellano said. “The turf was also softer that day. He likes a little harder track and with today’s fast pace, it was exactly what we needed.” 

For Castellano, the Dixie was his second win on the day and fourth graded-stakes victory of the weekend, including the Gallorette (G3) with Watsdachances earlier on Saturday’s 14-race Preakness Stakes (G1) program. 

On Friday, the two-time defending Eclipse Award-winning rider upset the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) with Keen Pauline and captured the Sagamore Racing Pimlico Special (G3) aboard favored Commissioner. 

Castellano previously won the Dixie in 2008 with Pays to Dream and 2012 aboard Hudson Steele. It was also the third Dixie victory for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, following Lure (1993) and Parading (2009). 

Skyring, the 2013 Dixie winner making his first start since being reunited with Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, broke well and set the pace through a quarter-mile in 23.64 seconds and a half in 48.14, tracked by Talk Show Man and Chamois to his outside. 

The top three were still showing the way after running six furlongs in 1:11.95 as Ironicus began to launch his bid and Grade 1 winner Lochte revved up on the outside. Up With the Birds, sixth as the favorite in the 2014 Dixie, was spun wide as he moved into contention at the top of the stretch. 

Ironicus steadily gained ground before separating from the field down the stretch as Cage Fighter battled on to the wire, finishing second by 1 ¼ lengths over Up With the Birds. Long On Value, the 5-2 favorite in a field of 13, ran fourth. 

“We’ve always held him in high regard,” McGaughey’s assistant, Robbie Medina, said. “He had a little injury last year, so we had to wait to run him until October. He’s veen very unlucky and should have already won at Aqueduct and Keeneland. He just trains and looks like a good horse, and I don’t think this is his optimal distance; he wants more.”
 

   LONGINES DIXIE QUOTES

Assistant Robbie Medina to winning trainer Shug McGaughey (Ironicus): “We’ve always held him in high regard. He had a little injury last year, so we had to wait to run him until October. He’s been very unlucky and should have already won at Aqueduct and Keeneland. He just trains and looks like a good horse, and I don’t think this is his optimal distance. He wants more. I think a mile and an eighth or a mile and a quarter is right for him.”

Winning jockey Javier Castellano (Ironicus): “This race set up perfectly for us. In his last race the leader just galloped and he made a run but didn’t have a chance to win. The turf was also softer that day. He likes a little harder track and with today’s fast pace, it was exactly what we needed. I think he may be able to step up.”

Owner Matt Schera (Cage Fighter, 2^nd): “He ran so well. He won the allowance here so we knew he liked the turf here. We scratched out of a Belmont allowance because this wasn’t that much tougher. We took a shot. He got a great trip and ran really well.

Jockey Joe Bravo (Cage Fighter, 2^nd): “You’ve got to love this horse. He always hits the board. I’m sorry we lost, but he ran great and hats off to the winners.”

Trainer Graham Motion (Up With the Birds, 3^rd): “I'm very pleased, very pleased. He was just so wide – that hurt him. But I love the way Drayden (Van Dyke) rode him. It was a really honest performance from a tough post. I'm thrilled with how he ran.''

Jockey Drayden Van Dyke (Up With the Birds, 3^rd): “My horse likes to make one run. With 14 horses, it’s hard to get in that position. We were two, three wide the whole race and had to go six, seven wide to make a great run at the finish.