Honeybee rich in Oaks points

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Kentucky Oaks trail is starting to heat up at Oaklawn, where the undefeated Amy’s Challenge will make her two-turn debut against the well-regarded Red Ruby in the Grade 3, $200,000 Honeybee on Saturday.

The Honeybee, at 1 1/16 miles, will award its first four finishers Kentucky Oaks qualifying points on a scale of 50-20-10-5. The higher points value is a reminder that most of the top 3-year-old fillies in training are just a prep or two away from the first Friday in May.

“The first part of the winter, it kind of goes by slow,” said Kellyn Gorder, who trains Red Ruby. “Right about now, everything starts. Time just starts to fly working toward the big ones.”

The Honeybee, which will share a card with the $125,000 Hot Springs, drew a field of seven. Stronger Than Ever enters off a win in the $148,000 Silverbulletday in January at Fair Grounds. Cosmic Burst captured the $100,000 Trapeze over Stronger Than Ever in December at Remington Park. Sassy Sienna is looking for her first stakes win off a runnerup finish to Red Ruby in last month’s $125,000 Martha Washington at Oaklawn, and the field is completed by Bo Peep and Rahway.

HONEYBEE (RACE 8) KEY CONTENDERS

Amy’s Challenge, by Artie Schiller Last 3 Beyers: 80-92-91

◗ Triple Crown nominee defeated males in her debut and in the $80,000 Shakopee Juvenile, both at Canterbury last year at 2. She opened up her 3-year-old season with a hardfought neck win in the $125,000 Dixie Belle, a six-furlong race Jan. 20 at Oaklawn.

“From the eighth pole all the way to the wire, it was pretty undecided,” said Mac Robertson, who trains Amy’s Challenge for Novogratz Racing Stable. “She got the best of the other horse in the end. She’s been in a couple of battles now and ended up on top.”

◗ Amy’s Challenge was close to a quick pace in the Dixie Belle and has a chance to take her competition a long way on the lead Saturday. She will break from post 6 under regular rider Jareth Loveberry.

“I’ll tell the jock to let her break and don’t fight her back, but don’t send her – let her run her race,” said Robertson.

Red Rudy, by Tiznow Last 3 Beyers: 83-79-72

◗ She has won two of three starts and is unbeaten at two turns. She won her maiden in her second start, a 1 1/16mile race Nov. 25 at Churchill Downs. One start later, Red Rudy overcame a less-thanideal trip for a 2 1/2-length win in the Martha Washington.

“She was kind of in a pocket with horses around her,” said Gorder. “She just stayed in there, took the dirt well in the face, and never got rattled. That’s what I was really pleased about.”

◗ Gorder said he also has been pleased with how Red Ruby has worked since the start. Among her drills was a halfmile in 48 seconds last Sunday at Oaklawn.

◗ Gorder trains Red Ruby for Sandra Sexton and Brandi Nicholson. The filly is a halfsister to Beautician, a stakes winner who ran second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, and Mo Tom, a winner of the Grade 3 Lecomte at Fair Grounds and the Ohio Derby.

◗ Robby Albarado has the mount from post 5.