Los Alamitos’ Dash for Cash Derby : Sixy Chick, Artesia Meet Tonight in Rematch of Upset

The rematch of Sixy Chick and Artesia in tonight’s $50,000-added Dash for Cash Derby at Los Alamitos Race Course may prove to be one of the season’s most interesting races.

This 440-yard event comes a month after the Lassie Handicap, which saw last year’s champion 2-year-old filly, Sixy Chick, finish second to Artesia, a consistent but undistinguished stakes contender, in one of the meeting’s biggest upsets.

Sixy Chick has a two-race losing streak to Russell Harris-trained horses. After winning seven of her first eight career starts, the sorrel filly ran second to Harris’ Prissy Fein in the $100,000 Los Alamitos Derby and to Artesia in the Lassie Handicap.

A daughter of Streakin Six, Sixy Chick ran first in five of six outings in 1984 en route to championship honors. She won the rich Faberge Futurity at Los Alamitos last summer, accounting for the bulk of the $579,067 she earned in purses last year.

She began this year the way she left off in 1984, winning the Town Policy Handicap and her trial for the Los Alamitos Derby before running into trouble--or rather, running second to Harris’ fillies.

Artesia was off for two months after a fourth-place finish behind Eastex, Lanes Leinster and Easy Austin in the Golden State Derby at Bay Meadows in April. Although she had trouble against the likes of Easy Austin and Miss Mighty Mary in major events last year, the daughter of Timeto Thinkrich has responded well in 1985 with victories in the La Primera Del Ano Derby and the Foster City Handicap, as well as the Lassie.

“We had to give her that layoff when we did,” Harris said. “She simply needed the rest. She really ran a very good race in the Golden State Derby when she finished fourth. She did very well, considering how much she had been running, but she didn’t have it all at the end. That’s why she needed the time off.”

Artesia, the favorite in tonight’s race, won her Dash for Cash Derby trial, setting the fastest time of any qualifier--21:83 seconds.

“I think Artesia is a top candidate for champion 3-year-old filly,” Harris said. “She has already won three graded stakes, and she has been consistent in some others.”

Blane Schvaneveldt’s two entries, Dash In Style and Sixy Chick, had the second (21:84) and third (21:92) fastest times, respectively.

Rounding out the field are Mind Game (21:97), Calyx (21:98), Return A Legend (22:01), Julies A Lady (22:01), Wrangler Sam (22:02), Drippin Chocolate (22:06) and Solid Glass (22:14).

Although Harris has confidence in Artesia, he still knows better than to disregard Sixy Chick.

“Sixy Chick will make you earn a victory,” he said. “She is the class filly of the race and definitely the horse to beat.

“Nothing comes easy with her out there.”