Heavy favorite Paddy O'Prado lived up to his top billing with a driving 1-1/2 length score in the Grade 2 Dixie Stakes at Pimlico on Saturday.
Baryshnikov looked like the main competition on paper and he took the early initiative under Julien Leparoux. He set tepid splits of :24.76, :49.07, and 1:14.21. He opened up by three-lengths in the stretch but Paddy O'Prado was beginning to roll up on the outside under Kent Desormeaux.
Paddy O'Prado was moving sweetly but kept drifting in. He pulled clear late and stopped the clock in 1:53.56.
Baryshnikov ran too good to lose and Bim Bam rallied for the show. Pocket Punch, Slews Answer, Lonely Whistle, and Eighttofasttocatch trailed.
