Honeybee’s best ride for rematch in Fantasy
Two leading candidates for the Grade 3 $400,000 Fantasy Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on April 13 at Oaklawn Park recorded workouts over a fast track Saturday morning in preparation for the 1 1/16-mile race.
Multiple stakes winner Cosmic Burst covered 5 furlongs in 1:01.40 for trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel. Novogratz Racing Stables’ multiple stakes winner Amy’s Challenge went a half-mile in :46.20 – fastest of 114 works recorded at the distance – for trainer Mac Robertson.
Cosmic Burst and Amy’s Challenge finished first and second, respectively, on March 10 in the Grade 3 $200,000 Honeybee Stakes , the final major local prep for the Fantasy.
Clockers caught Cosmic Burst galloping out 6 furlongs in 1:14.
“I was very happy with it,” Von Hemel said. “Came down the lane really nice. We’ll probably do something else before we get there (Fantasy).”
Like Cosmic Burst, Amy’s Challenge worked after the break to renovate the racing surface. Following the half-mile, clockers caught Amy’s Challenge galloping out 5 furlongs in :58.60 and 6 furlongs in 1:12.60 under Alex Canchari.
“Really impressive,” said Canchari, Oaklawn’s co-seventh-leading jockey this year. “The way she covers ground is just insane. She’s got a ton of speed.”
Amy’s Challenge, in her twoturn debut, was beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Cosmic Burst in the Honeybee after opening a long lead down the backstretch. It was her first loss in four career starts.
Robertson said Amy’s Challenge had been considered for the Grade 1 $500,000 Ashland Stakes to be run on April 7 at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky.
Also pointing for the Fantasy are Sassy Sienna and Stronger Than Ever, third and sixth, respectively, in the Honeybee.
Sassy Sienna worked a half-mile in :48 Saturday morning for trainer Brad Cox.
In addition to Stronger Than Ever, trainer Kenny McPeek said Saturday he plans to start Eskimo Kisses in the Fantasy. Eskimo Kisses won two races earlier in the meeting before running second in the Grade 2 $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks last Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans.
“She’s doing good,” McPeek said. “She’s a big, sturdy filly.”
Robertson said he also plans to run Thursday first-level allowance/ optional claiming winner Tahoe Dream in the Fantasy. A daughter of champion and 2005 Arkansas Derby winner Afleet Alex, Tahoe Dream is unbeaten in two career starts around two turns. She broke her maiden at 1 1/16 miles March 8 and was a neck winner going a mile Thursday.
“Runs long and passes horses,” Robertson said. “Seems like a good plan to me.”
Nominations to the Fantasy closed on Friday.
Oaklawn will not host live racing today in observance of Easter. The track is scheduled to hold races five days this week from Wednesday through Sunday.