A $7,500 claim four starts back, Dixie Groove secured the biggest win of her career Saturday, rallying outside to win Laurel Park’s $49,000 allowance feature.

The win was her eighth from 35 career starts and pushed her bankroll to over $175,000. It was her third win in four starts since trainer Jack Abrams and owner Barry Franklin claimed the five-year-old Overanalyze mare this past December.

“She was just consistent,” Abrams said. “Even though she was pretty cheap, she would always make a run. Now she’s really found her game coming from behind, and she’s really getting better.”

On paper today’s 1 1/16-mile contest had plenty of early pace. In the event, however, all that speed evaporated, leaving tepid 5-2 favorite Sister Supream alone to dole out sluggish fractions: 49.33 seconds for a half-mile, 1:14.51 for three quarters, all done while holding a clear lead.

Dixie Groove was in fourth after three quarters, 5 ½ lengths off the leader. In the lane, Sister Supream, with Carlos Lopez up, increased her advantage to 2 ½ lengths, but Dixie Groove and jockey JG Torrealba were just getting geared up on the outside.

“I was pretty worried [after the slow opening fractions], but she ran good,” Abrams said.

Dixie Groove won by 1 ½ lengths, stopping the timer in 1:47.64 for 1 1/16 miles on a fast main track. Sister Supream held second, a couple ahead of Rowsie Express.

Dixie Groove paid $15.00 as the fifth choice in the wagering and topped an exacta that returned $32.50 for a one-dollar wager.

The Parx-based Abrams said he wasn’t sure what he might do next with Dixie Groove, but added, “It’s a good problem to have.”

Abrams, the son of longtime Parx trainer Ron Abrams, got his start working with his father before striking out on his own in 2022. Entering today he had won with 33 of 188 starters in his career with purse earnings slightly over $900,000 and had a 9-for-29 ledger this year.

With today’s win, Dixie Groove will move into third place by earnings among the horses Abrams has trained. He currently has 12 in the barn, he said.

“I’ve been training on my own for, like, three years,” Abrams said. “But I’ve been working with my dad for a very long time, and we still work together all the time.”

NOTES The win aboard Dixie Groove was Torrealba’s second of the day. He also took a maiden claimer aboard On a Proud Note for trainer Mike Trombetta…Apprentice rider Yedsit Hazlewood won twice, giving him four in two days – the first four wins of his career. He piloted Schrader to an eight-length win in a $40,000 claimer for trainer Hugh McMahon and Tam Char to a nose win for Mike Gorham… The day began with a longshot, as Angel Cruz and Martini Martin got up by a nose at odds of 20-1. Martini Martin is trained by Carlos Mancilla… McMahon was the only trainer to double, also taking a starter-optional claimer with Viennese Waltz ($12.40). Wes Hamilton was in the irons…