Asmussen pointing Fire Coral to Fantasy Stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Fire Coral will put a perfect two-turn record on the line next month when the promising 3-year-old filly moves into stakes company at Oaklawn Park.

Trainer Steve Asmussen said Fire Coral is being pointed for the Grade 3, $400,000 Fantasy on May 1. The start comes off back-to-back wins at the meet, both at the 1 1/16-mile distance of the Fantasy.

“I think she’s a very nice Curlin filly that obviously has some talent,” said Asmussen.

Fire Coral won a maiden special weight in her second career start Jan. 31 at Oaklawn, then came back and rolled by 3 1/2 lengths in a first-level allowance at the track March 12. She was flattered here Friday, when Piece of My Heart won a first-level allowance after running fourth to Fire Coral on March 12.

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Fire Coral is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Champagne Problems. She races for Susan Moulton.

Asmussen trained Curlin, who was a two-time Horse of the Year. Asmussen has won three of the last four runnings of the Fantasy and two of those winners – Terra Promessa (2016) and Lady Apple (2019) – are by Curlin.

Trainer Brad Cox won the Fantasy in 2018 and has two potential starters for this year's running in champion British Idiom and Grade 3 winner Shedaresthedevil. Both fillies worked Saturday at Oaklawn.

The Fantasy, which carries points for the Kentucky Oaks, was moved to closing weekend this meet after the Kentucky Oaks was postponed to Sept. 4.