Coal Front filly gets first stakes win of 2024 in thriller

Xtreme Diva held off Blue Squall by a nose to win a scintillating stretch duel in the $150,000 Dixie Belle S. Feb. 17 at Oaklawn Park.

The victory marked the first stakes win for the 3-year-old Coal Front filly, who had an allowance win just 15 days before over the same surface and six-furlong distance.

Facing just four foes, Xtreme Diva was fourth down the backstretch, but never more than three lengths from the front. She gained ground steadily around the turn while in the three path and was head-to-head for the lead entering the stretch. Blue Squall had a slight advantage at the top of the lane, but Xtreme Diva dug in resolutely and put her nose in front in the final strides to get the win in 1:10.78 on a fast track.

Bred by Scott Pierce, Xtreme Diva races in the colors of Xtreme Racing Stables LLC. A winner of last year’s $100,000 Northern Lights Debutante S., the dark bay filly is now 4-0-0 in six starts and has earned $255,642.

Xtreme Diva is Coal Front’s first open company stakes winner and his second stakes horse in the past two weeks. A five-time graded stakes winner of over $1.8 million, Coal Front’s 2024 fee is $5,000 S&N.