Access Fee sharp in tune-up for Barbara Fritchie

Access Fee ($3.60) remained unbeaten in the four starts she has made at her home track when she cruised to a 4 3/4-length score in the $50,000 What a Summer Stakes at Laurel Park.

A 4-year-old daughter of Menifee owned by Sondra Bender and trained by Larry Murray, Access Fee sprinted to the front under her regular rider, Jose Caraballo, and was never seriously challenged while completing six furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.31.

"I was just galloping and when I asked her she just took off," said Caraballo. "I had plenty left and made sure we have enough horse for the next start."

Murray said he intends to point Access Fee to the Grade 2, $150,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap on Feb. 14. Multiple stakes winner All Giving finished second, three-quarters of a length in front of Now It Begins. The previously unbeaten Hongkong Tour wound up fifth as the 9-2 second choice in a field of 10 fillies and mares.

The only two times Murray has taken Access Fee out of town, the filly's chances were compromised by poor starts.

In Access Fee's stakes debut last month in the Forli at Aqueduct, jockey Ramon Dominguez told Murray that the ground broke out from under her as she left the gate.

"If that hadn't happened I think she was the best horse in that race," Murray said.