World Approval dazzles in the Dixie S. (G2)

Live Oak Stud’s dynamic homebred turf star World Approval became racing’s newest millionaire on Saturday with a scintillating victory in the $250,000 Dixies S. (G2) at Pimlico.

The 5-year-old gray son of Northern Afleet picked up $150,000 for his connections upping his earnings to $1,103,763.

World Approval got a flawless ride from Julien Leparoux in the 1 1/16-mile Dixie, which was run over a “good” turf course that had taken quite a bit of rain the previous two days. Leparoux put World Approval in second just off the flank of pacesetter Security Risk. He track the leader through a tepid six furlongs in 1:13.94, then burst to the lead at the top of the stretch and never had a serious threat in the final furlong as he finished very strong to stop the timer in 1:43.15.

“He’s a nice horse and we got the perfect trip today—the ideal trip anyway,” Leparoux said. “The track was good for him and there was not too much speed in the race, so the plan was to be right up there and relax. At the three-eighths he started grabbing the bit.”

World Approval’s other graded stakes wins have come in the United Nations S. (G1), American Derby (G3), and Saranac S. (G3). His lifetime mark now stands at 8-2-4 from 20 starts.

Pedigree Notes from the TDN

World Approval is the latest success story for his dam Win Approval, whose best produce was Miesque’s Approval, the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) hero and that year’s Eclipse Award-winning turf male and now a sire in South Africa. Win Approval’s other seven-figure earners include Revved Up and Za Approval . World Approval’s half-sister Highest Approval is the dam of MGSP Roman Approval.

World Approval powers to victory in the 2017 Dixie S. (G2) – Eclipse Photo