A field of eight will go postward in Friday’s 1 1/16-mile Fantasy S. (G2), Oaklawn
Park’s marquee event for three-year-old fillies.
EX CAELIS (Fusaichi Pegasus) will be making her sophomore debut for trainer
Wayne Lukas. As a juvenile, she finished second in the Alcibiades S. (G2) and
Arlington-Washington Breeders’ Cup Lassie S. (G3) before checking in a
creditable fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). Ex Caelis has been
training forwardly in advance of this race, turning in a bullet six furlongs at
Churchill Downs in 1:13 2/5 on March 29. John Jacinto will ride the dark bay for
the first time.
SWEET FERVOR (Seeking the Gold) stretches out to two turns after three
seven-furlong races for horseman Bill Mott. Freshened after her debut maiden
victory at Belmont Park last September, the chestnut reappeared in the January
21 Gasparilla S. at Tampa Bay Downs in January, where she circled the field en
route to a seven-length score in a stakes-record time of 1:23 3/5. In her latest
effort, the Kinsman Farm homebred suffered her first loss when fifth, beaten 3
3/4 lengths, in the March 5 Forward Gal S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park. Robby
Albarado will pilot the half-sister to Grade 2 winner and $1.3 million-earner
Concerto.
Two Grade 1-placed fillies are invading from California. QUIET KIM (Real
Quiet) is coming off a second to multiple Grade 1 winner Balance (Thunder Gulch)
in the March 12 Santa Anita Oaks (G1), and Pat Valenzuela will team up with the
Bob Hess trainee once again. MISS NORMAN (Artax), a remote runner-up to the
dominating Folklore (Tiznow) in the Matron S. (G1) last September, will make her
first start as a three-year-old and her first since switching to the barn of
Karin Long.
Trainer Todd Pletcher will be represented by READY TO PLEASE (More Than
Ready), exiting smart maiden and allowance victories at Gulfstream Park. Golden
Rod S. (G2) third LADY DANZA (Cryptoclearance), ninth in the Bourbonette
Breeders’ Cup S. (G3) over Turfway’s Polytrack last out, will try to get back to
her best on the dirt for conditioner Helen Pitts.
The Donnie Von Hemel-trained BROWNIE POINTS (Forest Wildcat) will be mounting
Oaklawn’s local defense against the invaders. She registered an impressive 2
3/4-length victory in the February 24 Martha Washington S., then closed for
second in the Honeybee S. at this trip. Leading rider Luis Quinonez
will be aboard her for the fourth straight race.
Last-out Sam Houston Oaks winner SWEET IDEA (Langfuhr) has not raced at
Oaklawn, but she has recorded three works over the Hot Springs, Arkansas, track
for trainer Bret Calhoun.
In post position order, the field comprises Lady Danza, Brice Blanc; Ready to
Please, Stewart Elliott; Sweet Idea, Donnie Meche; Miss Norman, Tony Farina;
Brownie Points; Sweet Fervor; Ex Caelis; and Quiet Kim.
Five of the eight fillies will carry 117 pounds, while Sweet Idea, Brownie
Points and Sweet Fervor will shoulder 121.