Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith knows something about riding precocious fillies, especially those with early speed.
Whereas Zenyatta, with whom he is most closely identified, came from off the pace, Smith also rode Songbird, another multiple champion, usually found on the lead. A onetime Oaklawn regular, Smith is in town ostensibly to ride the front-running Unique Bella in today's Grade 1 $750,000 Apple Blossom Handicap.
Two races before the Apple Blossom, Smith climbs aboard a 3-year-old filly with a quick burst of speed she couldn't control in her last race.
Smith's saddle presence enhances the appeal of Amy's Challenge in the Grade 3 $400,000 Fantasy Stakes. An Oaklawn stakes winner going short for trainer Mac Robertson, the daughter of noted turfer Artie Schiller wilted under fast fractions around two turns when second in the Grade 3 $200,000 Honeybee March 10. Hence, in a time of greater urgency, the switch from Jareth Loveberry, who has ridden Amy's Challenge in her previous four races, to Smith for the Fantasy.
"Obviously, he's a little different," said Robertson, referring to Smith. "That's why they put him on fast fillies."
Saddling on the infield unnerved Amy's Challenge before the Honeybee, the trainer said, that behavior carrying into the race. As a corrective measure, Robertson has given Amy's Challenge two half-mile "bullet" workouts in the five weeks between races while still trying to curb her early aggressiveness.
"I've been galloping her with a pony because she gets a little more attached to the pony," Robertson said. "In the morning, they get attached to the pony, the less aggressive they are."
Cosmic Burst benefited most from Amy's Challenge's pace meltdown in the Honeybee, winning by a length and three quarters at the Fantasy distance of a mile and sixteenth. Before that, Cosmic Burst struggled on a wet track when third in the one-mile Martha Washington, her 3-year-old debut. With heavy rain forecast today, trainer Donnie Von Hemel is powerless against both the weather and a rival's strategy.
"I would assume so," Von Hemel said when asked if he expected Amy's Challenge going to the front again. "How much does she improve, her second route race?"
Amy's Challenge is 5-2 second choice on the morning line from post six, and Cosmic Burst, with Richard Eramia aboard, is 7-2 from post four.
Program favorite Wonder Gadot, 2-1 from outside post eight, comes off a third-place finish in the Grade 2 $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks March 24. Oaklawn rookie David Cabrera gets the mount on last year's Grade 2 Demoiselle (Aqueduct) winner for Mark Casse, the 2017 Arkansas Derby-winning trainer of Classic Empire.
Also entered are, from the rail, Sassy Sienna, Gary Stevens up, at 8-1; Harbor Lights, Ricardo Santana Jr., 6-1; Tahoe Dream, Alex Canchari, 20-1; Bo Peep, Jon Court, 30-1; and Princess Warrior, Ramon Vazquez, 8-1.
An early-season Oaklawn winner, Sassy Sienna placed second in the Martha Washington and third in the Honeybee for trainer Brad Cox. Tahoe Dream, a second Robertson trainee, and Bo Peep (Jinks Fires) are two-time meet winners.
"I guess the Casse horse was kind of the surprise, as far as being in the race," said Von Hemel. "But she looks pretty tough. It should be a good race, I think."
Seventh of 10 races on Oaklawn's penultimate card of the season, the Fantasy is set for 4:34 p.m.
Sports on 04/13/2018