GIII Honeybee Stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark.--Bearing witness to Thoropedo Anna (Fast Anna) putting on a show down the stretch at Oaklawn Park in the 2024 edition of the GII Fantasy Stakes before she became a champion was a special moment in her career. The track will honor the now-retired mare on Friday with a bobblehead giveaway, which in no uncertain terms equals immortality. On Friday in Hot Springs, the latest batch of 3-year-old fillies will take to the track in the Fantasy and chase a cut of the $1 million purse, plus a...

Pegram, Watson and Weitman's Explora (Blame) stayed close throughout and once in front, the even-money choice proved too tough to run down as she held off Counting Stars to take Sunday's GIII Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Longshot Knickleandime (Knicks Go) went to the front as Sneaky Good (Into Mischief) to the inside and Explora on the outer, took up chase through an opening quarter in :23.45. As the 15-1 chance continued to show the way, the even-money choice Explora pressured her to the outside through a :47.70 half. With...

HOT SPRINGS, Ark.--When 'TDN Rising Star' and GI Kentucky Oaks hopeful Quietside (Malibu Moon) jettisons like an escape pod from the Oaklawn Park gate in the GIII Fantasy Stakes on Saturday, the conflict between the light and the dark inside of John A. Ortiz will be at peace. It's the way of the trainer. In the sport of Thoroughbred racing, all conditioners develop coping mechanisms when it comes to managing raw emotion before the bell sounds, but Ortiz and his stable chooses to draw insight from 'A long time ago...