Amy's Challenge dominates Spring Fever Stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Amy’s Challenge won her second race of the Oaklawn meet in dominant fashion Saturday, when she rolled by 8 1/4 lengths in the $100,000 Spring Fever.

Last month, Amy’s Challenge was a 5 3/4-length winner of the $100,000 American Beauty.

“She’s run two super races in a row,” said Mac Robertson, who trains Amy’s Challenge.

The Spring Fever was a 5 1/2-furlong race for fillies and mares. Shanghai Tariff finished second, while it was another half-length back to Alex’s Bourbon in third.

Amy’s Challenge ($3.80) hooked Shanghai Tariff through an opening quarter in 22.20 seconds, moved past that one through a half-mile in 45.32, and went on to cover the distance in a stakes-record time of 1:03.10.

The win came one race after the Steve Asmussen-trained Mitole ran six furlongs in 1:08.99 in his first start since May.

“When we watched Mitole it was ‘Wow,’ then it was ‘Wow’ again,” Robertson said of the effort from Amy’s Challenge.

The previous Spring Fever stakes record was 1:03.40 set by Prospector’s Song in 1999.

Amy’s Challenge is a daughter of Artie Schiller who races for Novogratz Racing Stables. Alex Canchari has been aboard for each of her starts this meet at Oaklawn. Amy’s Challenge earned $60,000 for the win Saturday to improve her record to 6 for 10 for earnings of $359,156.

Amy’s Challenge was winning the fourth stakes race of her career Saturday.

The ontrack crowd, per officials, was an estimated 17,000.