The transition from age two to three for a Thoroughbred is sometimes not the smoothest. A horse can be a top juvenile but merely ahead of his or her rivals maturity-wise, and those friends catch up the next year.
That has not been the case this season with DIXIE LAW, a Sovereign Award finalist for Champion Two-Year-Old Filly in 2025, as the tough bay daughter of Tiz the Law performed well when third in the Grade 3 Selene Stakes, second in the Woodbine Oaks, and fourth in the King’s Plate. The homebred owned by Garland and Marie Williamson’s Hillsbrook Farm was due to break through for a Canadian Classic victory.
Dixie Law’s day came on Sunday, September 6, when she showed much resilience to hang on to win the testing WONDER WHERE STAKES on the turf, the third leg of the Triple Tiara series, over Bison City Stakes winner Katie’s Grace.
With Oaks and Plate winner Luster on a break, the Canadian-bred fillies did not have to meet that one in the second jewel of the Tiara, the Bison City Stakes on Aug. 8. Katie’s Grace rallied to win that Tapeta race for Chivalry Thoroughbred Racing and Hubert Vester and figured to be one of the contenders in the Wonder Where, despite never having run on the turf.
But shrewd bettors knew Dixie Law was going to love the return to the grass, since she beat the boys in the Cup & Saucer Stakes last fall on the lawn. With Pietro Moran riding, the Dale Desruisseaux-trained Dixie Law was bet down to 7-to-5.
Things looked good for Dixie Law throughout the Wonder Where as maiden winner Cool Times streaked to a big lead under Rafael Hernandez, setting honest fractions at the marathon distance. Dixie Law stalked the lead with the maiden La Culasse and then moved to the front late in the final turn when Cool Times started to fade. Dixie Law dug in when Katie’s Grace came to challenge into the stretch and got the wire first by a neck in 2:04.01.
“When she [Katie’s Grace] first lined up to me, she [Dixie Law] was kind of waiting a little, but you know she’s a true example of a racehorse, she looked the other horse in the eye and fights,” said Moran. “She’s a lovely filly.”
Katie’s Grace was 5 1/2 lengths clear of maiden Ashlee B. who finished third at 18-to-1.
Dixie Law is the latest turf star for Williamson, who has been breeding horses in Canada for just over 25 years. His homebred mare Hard Not to Like, a Grade 1 winner on turf and later sold by Williamson, is in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. She was trained by Gail Cox and Michael Matz. Like a Gem, the dam of Hard Not to Like, won the 2006 Wonder Where for trainer Dan Vella, and Camp Creek won the 2016 Breeders’ Stakes for trainer Rachel Halden, later trained by Breeda Hayes.
Williamson purchased Dixie Law’s dam, BIT OF DIXIE (Union Rags) for $290,000 as a yearling in 2015. She never raced. Her first three foals included minor winners Sing Dixie and Country Living and maiden allowance winner Bit of Music.
Hillsbrook Farm in Erin is managed by former trainer Jim Cheadle.
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