UNDEFEATED MOTION EMOTION FAVORED IN 10-HORSE HONEYBEE

By Jennifer Hoyt —-

Motion Emotion; Oaklawn Park Photos

HOT SPRINGS, AR (Thursday, March 7, 2019) – Only two lengths separated the top four finishers in Oaklawn’s first Kentucky Oaks points race, and three of those horses are scheduled to meet again in Saturday’s $200,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3).

Probable post time for the Honeybee, the ninth of 10 races, is 5:04 p.m. (Central). Doors open Saturday at 11 a.m., with first post at 1:05 p.m.

The 1 1/16-mile Honeybee brings back Power Gal, Marathon Queen and Sunset Wish, 1-2-4, respectively, in the $125,000 Martha Washington Stakes Feb. 2. But the 3-1 program favorite is a new shooter, Motion Emotion, for owner Mark DeDomenico and trainer Tom Van Berg.

Breaking her maiden by 1 ½ lengths Jan. 25 and capturing her two-turn debut by 6 ¾ lengths in a first-level allowance race Feb. 17. Both victories were in front-running fashion.

“The thing you find out when you step up in these races is, obviously, there’s a lot more speed,” Van Berg said. “Raintree Starlet’s stretching out after the sprint stake and there’s really three or four other horses that actually have front-end type speed. We’re going to be going on an off track, it looks like now. More speed on the lead. The other day when she won and was so impressive, you couldn’t ask for a better trip. It was a dream trip.”

The projected 10-horse Honeybee field from the rail out: Perfect Reins, Richard Eramia to ride, 117 pounds, 15-1 on the morning line; Motion Emotion, Jon Court, 122, 3-1; Sunset Wish, Ramon Vazquez, 117, 6-1; Bizwhacks, Mario Gutierrez, 117, 12-1; Chocolate Kisses, Orlando Mojica, 117, 4-1; Power Gal, David Cohen, 122, 9-2; Raintree Starlet, Alex Canchari, 117, 6-1; Ultimate Mo, David Cabrera, 117, 12-1; Marathon Queen, Ricardo Santana Jr., 117, 6-1; and Best Kept Secret, Kevin Smith, 117, 30-1.

Power Gal, in her two-turn debut, earned 10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points for her half-length victory over Marathon Queen in the 1-mile Martha Washington.

“We feel like we’ve seen some improvement in her recently and she’ll need to improve,” trainer Mark Casse said. “Her race was good in the Martha Washington. It will get her hot and dirty if she doesn’t improve, but we think she will. David’s been on her a few times and he said she’s a better filly.”

Casse will also send out Chocolate Kisses, who exits a 1 ½-length first-level allowance victory Jan. 18 at Fair Grounds. Chocolate Kisses has never won on dirt, but the daughter of Candy Ride finished fourth in the $400,000 Alcibiades Stakes (G1) Oct. 5 at Keeneland.

“I think she’s OK on the grass, but my feeling is she’s better on the dirt,” Casse said. “So, we’ll see.”

Raintree Starlet will be making her two-turn debut after winning her last three starts, including the $100,000 Dixie Belle Stakes Feb. 16 for trainer Brian Williamson.

“Even if she stays a sprinter, I’d be happy,” Williamson said. “But if she could stretch out, that opens up a whole lot more.”

The Honeybee offers 85 points (50-20-10-5) to the top four finishes toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Oaks and is the final major local prep for the $500,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) April 12.