Scotty’s Model tries dirt in sprint stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Scotty’s Model will be trying to turn a new trick Saturday when she seeks her first win on dirt in the $125,000 American Beauty at Oaklawn Park. The mare is a seven-time winner, with six victories on synthetic surfaces and one win on grass, all at Woodbine.

“I’m hopeful she adapts,” trainer Norm McKnight said.

The American Beauty is a sixfurlong race for older fillies and mares. A field of nine is set to start, including stakes winners Okie Diva, Chanteline, Summer House, and Thoughtless.

AMERICAN BEAUTY (RACE 8) KEY CONTENDERS

Scotty’s Model, by Mr. Scotty Last 3 Beyers: 85-85-83

◗ She is seeking her first stakes win, having run second by a head last out in the Grade 2 Bessarabian on Nov. 26 at Woodbine. She closed fast and was just edged in the seven-furlong race that went in a quick 1:21.79.

“She ran a tremendous race last time at home there,” said McKnight, who trains Scotty’s Model for Bruno Schickedanz. “One more jump, and she was a winner. Unfortunately, we ran out of racetrack. She ran a fantastic race.”

◗ McKnight is wintering at Oaklawn for the first time and worked Scotty’s Model over the local oval in preparation for her dirt debut Saturday.

“She’s breezed okay, not quite the same as she did at home on the synthetic,” he said. “But she’s always been a very consistent filly. I’m not too worried about her breezes. When it’s game time, she comes with the run that she needs to. I’m optimistic that she’ll be fine.”

◗ Luis Contreras has the mount from post 6.

Okie Diva, by Chitoz Last 3 Beyers: 70-85-79

◗ She is riding a three-race win streak, having taken a pair of allowance sprints over older rivals Nov. 2 and Dec. 2 at Remington Park, then moving to a mile and defeating fellow Oklahoma-breds in that track’s $50,000 Useeit for 3-year-olds on Dec. 17. Okie Diva progressed throughout her campaign last year at 3.

“When she first started her 3-year-old season, she just wanted to go, go, go,” trainer Donnie Von Hemel said. “In her second start [of the year], an Oklahoma-bred stakes going seven-eighths, she got away in the right form, as far as she was off the pace a bit, but about halfway down the backside, she just blew up through there and really ruined her chances of winning.

“Ever since then, we’ve been working with her, actually added some earplugs. I think that’s helped her relax, and the fact that she’s relaxed has made her a much better horse. If you look at her races now, horses can go out and go real fast, and she’ll be sitting a few lengths off them and have something for the finish. She’s learned to wait.”

◗ Okie Diva, who will break from post 4 under Luis Quinonez, will be cutting back from a mile.

“I think she’s a better sprint filly,” said Von Hemel, who trains Okie Diva for Richter Family Trust.