Chanel’s Legacy has already upset the first two legs of Oaklawn Park’s three-year-old filly series and will attempt to make it three in a row when she breaks from the rail in Saturday’s $200,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3).
The 1 1/16-mile affair is part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks and will offer 50-20-10-5 points to the top four finishers. Chanel’s Legacy already boasts 11 points and currently sits in 10th on the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard, but will try to pad that number with another win in this spot.
The Lynn Chleborad-trained Dominus filly has yet to break 90 in terms of BRIS Speed ratings, but hasn’t needed too considering she captured the Dixie Belle Stakes and Martha Washington Stakes by 2 1/2 lengths each. Chanel’s Legacy was sent off at 5-1 in that first contest and 13-1 in the latter event, but easily scored under returning jockey Alex Birzer.
Lining back up against Chanel’s Legacy in the Honeybee is My Sweet Stella, who finished second in the Dixie Belle and Martha Washington. Those were the D. Wayne Lukas pupil’s first starts of 2017 and she’ll get yet another jockey switch to Ramon Vazquez while seeking her first win on the main track.
Perfect Wife went off the 8-5 favorite in the Martha Washington, but broke through the gate prior to the race and led for the early calls. She eventually faded to last of eight but is capable of so much more, as proven by her five-length victory in the Trapeze Stakes in her juvenile finale for trainer Kenny McPeek. Corey Lanerie has the call.
Another favorite who suffered a loss recently is Elate. The Bill Mott trainee romped by 12 lengths in her debut at Aqueduct last November 26 and made her sophomore bow in the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs last out on February 11. The dark bay daughter of Medaglia d’Oro was the heavy 1-5 favorite that day, but could not catch re-opposing gate-to-wire winner Tapa Tapa Tapa and was forced to settle for second. Jose Lezcano has piloting duties for the first time.
Tapa Tapa Tapa wasn’t given much shot at 9-1 in the Suncoast, but easily proved best by three lengths. That was the Tim Hamm filly’s first try on a conventional dirt surface, and she keeps Jesus Castanon aboard for this one.
Rounding out the Honeybee field are last-out allowance/optional claiming winner It Tiz Well, runner-up in the Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) two back; stakes winner Someday Soon; Lovely Bernadette, Ever So Clever and Benner Island, the respective fourth, fifth and sixth in the Martha Washington; and maiden winner Tap of War.
