Oaklawn Barn Notes: Connections Considering Several Options for Amy’s Challenge

By Jennifer Hoyt —-

Connections Considering Several Options for Amy’s Challenge

Novogratz Racing Stables Inc.’s Amy’s Challenge is under consideration for the $500,000 Ashland Stakes (G1) April 7 at Keeneland and the $400,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) April 13 at Oaklawn, trainer Mac Robertson said Thursday morning.

A 3-year-old daughter of Artie Schiller, Amy’s Challenge has won 3 of 4 career starts, including the $125,000 Dixie Belle Stakes Jan. 20 in her 2018 debut. In her last start, and two-turn debut, Amy’s Challenge finished second, beaten 1 ¾ lengths, in the $200,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) March 10. The Honeybee is the final major local prep for the Fantasy. Like the Fantasy, the Ashland is 1 1/16 miles.

“I like another week here and I like the round pen here,” Robertson said. “I like the Grade 1 there, and they finish at the sixteenth pole.”

In the 1 1/16-mile Honeybee, Amy’s Challenge led by eight lengths after a half-mile and by seven lengths after three-quarters.

“A little keen,” Robertson said after the race. “The first quarter was fine, but, obviously, you don’t win races long going :23, :23, :23. She got a little sharp. She had been really sharp going into the race. I was afraid of that. It’s never good when you open up that far away. … An awfully nice field. Hopefully, she’ll learn to relax a little.”

Robertson said he will probably work Amy’s Challenge twice before her next start.

“I think she’s pretty fit,” Robertson said.

Prairie Bound

David Cabrera, Oaklawn’s second-leading rider this year, said Thursday morning that he will ride at Prairie Meadows after the meet ends April 14.

In his first season at Oaklawn, Cabrera ranks second in mounts (199), victories (29) and purse earnings ($1,148,816). He won the $125,000 American Beauty Stakes Jan. 27 aboard Swing and Sway for trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs and the $125,000 King Cotton Stakes Feb. 3 aboard Wilbo for 2015 Oaklawn training champion Chris Hartman.

Cabrera said his goal is to finish in the top five in the standings before Prairie Meadows opens April 26. Cabrera was Prairie Meadows’ second-leading rider last year.
Cabrera said his plan is to ride again at Oaklawn in 2019, then try Churchill Downs for the first time.

“We just want to give it another year and maybe get a little more experience and be more solid for next year, for sure,” Cabrera said.

Joe Santos, Cabrera’s agent at Oaklawn, said he will represent the jockey at Prairie Meadows.

“That’s my man,” Santos said.

Streamline OK

Streamline returned in good order after finishing last of eight in Saturday’s $350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2), trainer Brian Williamson said Sunday morning.

The 1 1/16-mile Azeri was Streamline’s 11th consecutive start in Oaklawn’s series of two-turn stakes races for older fillies and mares, but the first time she finished worse than third. Streamline, the defending Azeri champion, was coming off a victory in the $150,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) Feb. 17. She also won the $100,000 Pippin Stakes in 2016.

Williamson said Streamline “ate a lot of dirt” Saturday, but scoped clean.

“No mucus, no blood,” Williamson said. “Legs looked good. Everything’s good, except the result of the race. We’ll live to fight another day.”

Williamson said he’ll watch Streamline train before committing to the $700,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) April 13, a 1 1/16-race that is being targeted by champion Unique Bella.

Streamline ran second to future Eclipse Award winner Forever Unbridled in the 2016 Apple Blossom and was third behind Eclipse Award winner Stellar Wind in last year’s race.

“I’ll see what other options I have, if there’s something else somewhere,” Williamson said. “If not, we’re here. We might take a shot because this is the first real clunker she’s run here.”

Streamline trained before the renovation break Thursday morning.

A victory Saturday would have made Streamline, a 6-year-old Illinois-bred daughter of Straight Line, a millionaire. She has an 8-3-9 record from 22 lifetime starts and earnings of $795,499.

The Purple Martin

Saturday’s $150,000 Purple Martin Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 6 furlongs has drawn a field of eight.

Probable post time for the Purple Martin, which goes as the ninth of 10 races, is 5:09 p.m. (Central). Doors open Saturday at 11 a.m., with first post 1:05 p.m.

The Purple Martin field from the rail out: Salt Bae, David Cabrera to ride, 115 pounds; Vision of Justice, Alex Canchari, 119; Criminal Mischief, Luis Contreras, 115; Clay’s Dialing In, Jon Court, 115; Msbrooklynbrawler, Marlon St. Julien, 119; Mia Mischief, Ricardo Santana Jr., 119; Turbo Shaft, Santo Sanjur, 119; and Buy Sell Hold, Ramon Vazquez, 119.

A 16 ¼-length maiden winner last fall at Keeneland, Mia Mischief finished second, beaten a neck by Amy’s Challenge, in the $125,000 Dixie Belle Stakes Jan. 20 for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

Asmussen, who won last year’s Purple Martin with Golden Mischief through a race-related disqualification, is also scheduled to send out Buy Sell Hold, who beat males in the $100,000 Kentucky Juvenile Stakes last May at Churchill Downs.

Msbrooklynbrawler is unbeaten in two career starts for trainer Kelly Von Hemel, but she hasn’t run since a 12 ¼-length romp in the $93,159 Iowa Sorority Aug. 12 at Prairie Meadows.

Passing the Torch

Charles Cella, the son of Oaklawn President Louis Cella, presented the winning trophy to the owners of Magnum Moon, Robert and Lawana Low, following the unbeaten colt’s victory in Saturday’s $900,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds.

Louis Cella said it’s the first time his son has been a trophy presenter at Oaklawn, which has been owned by the Cella family for more than 100 years.

“He’s never been so excited,” Louis Cella said. “He was nervous, and I told him that grandpa made me give a couple of trophies away early on and I was nervous, too.”

Charles Cella, 22, is a University of Kentucky graduate and named after Louis Cella’s father, who was Oaklawn’s president from 1968 until his death in December.

Finish Lines

The track was rated fast for workouts Thursday morning. … Multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Racer worked 5 furlongs in 1:02.40 before the renovation break Thursday morning for trainer Jinks Fires of Hot Springs. Following the break, Fires worked 2017 Oaklawn debut winner and West Virginia Derby champ Colonelsdarktemper, who breezed 5 furlongs in 1:00.80 and galloped out a mile in 1:42.80. … Friday’s eighth race, an allowance/optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles, could produce a starter, or starters, for the $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses April 14. Millionaire Shotgun Kowboy is the 5-2 program favorite. Also entered is 7-2 second choice Hence, who will be making his 4-year-old debut for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. Hence represented Asmussen’s 500th Oaklawn career victory at the 2017 meeting before capturing the $800,000 Sunland Derby (G3) at Sunland Park and the $250,000 Iowa Derby (G3) at Prairie Meadows later in the year. Net Gain (8-1) exits a second-place finish in the $100,000 Maxxam Gold Cup Feb. 24 at Sam Houston. Far Right (9-2) is a multiple Oaklawn stakes winner. … Through 39 days at the meet, 311 claims have totaled $4,860,250.

Cover Photo: Amy’s Challenge; Coady/Oaklawn Photo