Cosmic Burst among stakes winners working toward April races
Multiple stakes winner Cosmic Burst returned to the work tab after the renovation break Saturday morning at Oaklawn Park, covering a half-mile in :48.80 over a fast track for trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel.
Cosmic Burst was breezing for the first time since winning the Grade 3 $200,000 Honeybee Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on March 10. The Honeybee was the final major local prep for the Grade 3 $400,000 Fantasy Stakes on April 13.
Von Hemel said Cosmic Burst is pointing for the 1 1/16-mile Fantasy, a race he won in 2002 with See How She Runs.
“Everything’s great,” Von Hemel said Friday morning.
Honeybee’s third Sassy Sienna, also pointing for the Fantasy, worked a half-mile in :49.20 Saturday morning for trainer Brad Cox.
Trainer Mac Robertson said the Honeybee runner-up Amy’s Challenge is under consideration for the Fantasy or the Grade 1 $500,000 Central Bank Ashland at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky.
Zippy Lou, named for Oaklawn guest services manager Lou Siegel, worked a half-mile in :48 Saturday morning for Cox in advance of the $100,000 Rainbow Miss Stakes for 3-year-old Arkansas-bred fillies on March 31.
Trainer Wayne Catalano said multiple stakes winner Farrell is pointing for the Grade 1 $700,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares on April 13.
Unbeaten 3-year-old Exclamation Point worked a half-mile in :49.40 just after the track opened Saturday morning for trainer Brad Cox.
Cox said Exclamation Point is under consideration for the
$150,000 Northern Spur Stakes at Oaklawn and the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. Both 1 1/16mile races are April 14. Saturday’s work was the second for Exclamation Point since he cleared his first allowance condition March 3 in his twoturn debut. He was a sharp winner of his Feb. 3 career debut.
Exclamation Point, a half-brother to champion and
2017 Arkansas Derby winner Classic Empire, races for breeders Steve and Brandi Nicholson and Staton Flurry, of Hot Springs.