Six Speedy Fillies For The Week Of March 23-29

This week's rankings include two Oaks-bound fillies and a remarkable Arkansas-bred mare.

6-RASHMI, SA, Wilshire Stakes (Gr. III), 3/28, 1 mile (turf) (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure-89
(m, 5, Oscar Performance–Ponytail, by Lonhro ({Aus})
O-Augustin Stables. B-George Strawbridge (Ky). T-Jonathan Thomas. J-Kasushi Kimura.
The Strawbridge homebred came out firing despite a year-plus layoff to decisively earn her second graded score at 2/5 odds against four rivals with no graded black type. Thomas explained that Rashmi's layoff involved no major issues and that she has returned a “bigger, stronger version of herself.”

5-PROM QUEEN, GP, Gulfstream Park Oaks (Gr. II), 3/28, 1 1-16 miles (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure-90
(f, 3, Quality Road–Miss Bling Bling, by Tapit)
O/B-Gary and Mary West (Ky). T-Brad Cox. J-Javier Castellano.
It's now on to the Kentucky Oaks for Prom Queen, who clearly moved forward in avenging her no-excuses January loss to She Be Smooth when both fillies were making their debuts. She's the latest quality runner from the West bloodlines; her dam was injured and retired after a debut second but she's a full-sister to their GII Black-Eyed Susan winner Actress.

4-BAM'S BLISS KISS, AQU, Starter allowance, 3/28, 6 furlongs (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure-90
(f, 4, Solomini–Kiska, by Into Mischief)
O-Mad Dog Racing Stable. B-Torie Gladwell (NY). T-Jorge Abreu. J-Juan Rodriguez.
She became eligible for Saturday's race by starting in a $17,500 claimer last fall at Aqueduct, which she lost. She has since reeled off five straight wins–the last two with career-top Beyers of 91 and 90, respectively, after being claimed for $45,000 on New Year's Eve by Abreu on behalf of owner Larry Dorman.

3-COUNTING STARS, OP, Fantasy Stakes (Gr. II), 3/27, 1 1-16 miles (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure-92
(f, 3, Honor A. P.–Paynterbynumbers, by Paynter)
O-West Point Thoroughbreds. B-Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud (Ky). T-Mark Casse. J-Francisco Arrieta.
The Fantasy competition was diminished by the scratch of Explora due to illness, but regardless, Counting Stars ran an Oaks-worthy number. Her Martha Washington no-show in February perplexed even Casse, but she has bounced back with two strong runs. Her 92 Beyer is the second-best for Honor A. P.'s progeny, behind only the 96 by Blue Grass hopeful Reagan's Honor.

2-FOIE GRAS, OP, Matron Stakes, 3/27, 6 furlongs (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure-92
(f, 4, Volatile–Table Manners, by Algorithms)
O-Paradise Farms Corp and P Shooter Stable. B-E H Beau Lane (Ky). T-Mike Maker. J-Flavien Prat.
The improving filly upped her career-high Beyer by a tick while giving admirable chase to odds-on Haulin Ice (below). She was acquired for $100,000 via Fasig Tipton's December Digital Sale, then benefitted from careful reading of conditions to win back-to-back $135k Oaklawn stakes–the first for non-winners of a stakes other than state-bred (aka a restricted stakes), and the second for non-winners of a stakes other than state-bred or restricted.

1-HAULIN ICE, OP, Matron Stakes, 3/27, 6 furlongs (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure-97
(m, 5, Coal Front–She's Smoke, by Half Ours)
O-C2 Racing Stable, WSS Racing and Agave Racing Stable. B-Eugenia Thompson-Benight (Ark). T-Saffie Joseph Jr. J-Francisco Arrieta.
Nodouble was nicknamed the “Arkansas Traveler,” but Haulin Ice has matched the two-time TRA older-male champion in a couple of categories. The first-ever Arkansas-bred millionaire (now $1,227,750) made her fifth van ride to Hot Springs and as always was haulin' cash back to Palm Meadows. She is now 5-for-5 on those round trips since being purchased by her current owners in May 2024, and whipped open company in the $250k Matron for the second straight year.