Dave in Dixie headed to Belmont Stakes

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Elmont, NY (Sports Network) - California based colt Dave in Dixie will start in this year's 142nd edition of the $1 million Belmont Stakes on June 5. The addition of Ike and Dawn Thrash's three-year-old means that 11 will likely start in the final leg of racing's Triple Crown.

"It's worth a shot," said Ike Thrash. "He worked for the last time (before the Belmont) this morning and we waited until afterward to make sure he was coming."

Dave in Dixie worked a mile at Hollywood Park Thursday morning in 1:39 3/5.

Trained by John Sadler, Dave in Dixie was second in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita in February. He came back with a sixth to Sidney's Candy in the San Felipe and was a distant fifth, in his only start outside of California, in the Illinois Derby to American Lion.

Calvin Borel, who rode Super Saver to victory in this year's Kentucky Derby, will have the mount for the Belmont Stakes.

The field for the 1 1/2-mile Belmont will also include Dwyer Stakes runner-up Drosselmeyer, Preakness runner-up First Dude, Dwyer Stakes winner Fly Down, Lone Star Derby champ Game On Dude, Kentucky Derby runner-up Ice Box, Make Music for Me, Spangled Star, Blue Grass Stakes winner Stately Victor, Stay Put, and Uptowncharlybrown.