Fantasy

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Friday’s Fantasy S. (G2) features a heavy favorite in SHARP LISA (Dixieland
Band), who looks tough to beat if at her best. However, the chestnut miss
recently suffered a minor foot injury, which put her on a tight schedule for the
May 6 Kentucky Oaks (G1), and we feel the late-running miss could be vulnerable.
Yankee Penny (Quiet American), the 5-1 second choice on the morning line,
would’ve been the possible lone speed, but she’s been scratched due to a trapped
epiglottis. That means ROUND POND (Awesome Again) should be prominent throughout
on the front end with plenty left for the finish.

Trained by John Servis, Round Pond comes off a smashing 5 3/4-length score in
the Honeybee S., which followed an eight-length maiden victory in her second
career start in late February. She closely tracked the pace both times before
unleashing a strong turn of foot, and the bay lass earned commendable BRIS Speed
and Pace figures from those outings. Round Pond easily handled a route and
winners last time, and we believe she’ll keep improving with her first graded
score on Friday.

R LADY JOY (Vicar) ships in off a couple of impressive route victories at
Tampa Bay Downs and is trained by Kirk Ziadie, who knows how to pull off an
upset, derailing eventual Blue Grass (G1) winner The Cliff’s Edge last year with
Kaufy Mate in the Sam F. Davis S. Regular rider Jose Lezcano has made the trip
with R Lady Joy, who figures to show some early speed to secure good positioning
from her outside post into the first turn. The bay filly was visually impressive
capturing the Florida Oaks last time, earning a 117 Late Pace and career-best 96
Speed figure, and she looks like a top contender in this spot.

Sharp Lisa comes off a Grade 1 victory at Santa Anita, but she hasn’t raced
in 62 days and suffered a recent injury. Her Speed figures don’t lay over these
rivals, and the Doug O’Neill charge is stuck in the far outside post. She’s got
the back class to roll against these unproven rivals, but we’ll try to beat her.

RUGULA (Bernstein) exits a good second to Round Pond in the Honeybee and has
finished second in both Oaklawn appearances. She owns room for improvement and
figures to enjoy a forwardly placed trip. Rugula could stick around for another
share.

JILL ROBIN L (Precocity) got up for a narrow win in the Bonnie Miss S. (G2)
last time and has been moved into the barn of trainer Bob Holthus. The
late-running miss looms as an exotics threat, but she may have too much to do in
the stretch. CAPE HOPE (Cape Town) has looked like a female version of Kitten’s
Joy (El Prado [Ire]) so far this year, but he wasn’t thrown back on the dirt
last year. This filly has gotten good since switching to the turf in December,
and we don’t like the move back to the main track and will just watch to see how
she fares.

SHE SINGS (Petionville) was no factor in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) last time
and both career wins have come on off tracks. We can’t recommend the chances of
the California shipper. THE BETER MAN CAN (Lord Avie), who has squared off
against mostly Louisiana-bred rivals in the past, figures to be tested for class
and distance in this spot.