Sugar Shock, who was disqualified from first and placed
second in the Honeybee, moved one step closer to possible
redemption in the Grade 3, $400,000 Fantasy on April 5 by breezing five furlongs
over Oaklawn Park’s fast dirt Sunday in 1:02 1/5 under regular rider Channing Hill.
“She went nice and easy,” trainer Doug Anderson said. “She
went the way we wanted and we’re still on target for the Fantasy.”
Sugar Shock made her stakes debut in the Honeybee off a maiden score and an
allowance victory, both sprinting six furlongs, at Oaklawn to begin her
sophomore season. The Candy Ride miss was fifth at Churchill Downs in her racing
bow last October before filling the third spot under the same conditions on
November 24 in her juvenile finale.
Also working for the Fantasy on Sunday at Oaklawn was Please Explain, who
finished third in the Honeybee. The Curlin filly turned a half-mile
in :48 4/5 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01 4/5. The dark bay lass,
who had shipped in from Tampa Bay prior to the Honeybee, has remained in Hot
Springs since the March 8 race.
“She did it on her own,” trainer Tom Proctor said via phone
from Kentucky. “With this work, she’s definitely on track for the Fantasy.”
Likely Fantasy contender and Honeybee fourth Kiss Moon got a co-bullet five
furlongs in 1:00 2/5 on Sunday. The David Vance-trained daughter of Malibu Moon
was a 9 1/2-length allowance winner in January prior to a subpar seventh in the
Martha Washington and her Honeybee effort.
Nominations for the Fantasy closed with 22 fillies made
eligible for the 1 1/16-mile race. Florida shipper Stopchargingmaria, trained by
Todd Pletcher, is scheduled to arrive Monday. Entries will be drawn Wednesday.
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