High Heels Honeybee-bound

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - High Heels, who is considered one of the top 3-year-old fillies at Oaklawn, worked six furlongs here Tuesday in preparation for the $100,000 Honeybee Stakes here March 16. The race is a prep for the Grade 2, $250,000 Fantasy on April 6.

In her last start Feb. 10, High Heels finished fifth in the Grade 3 Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds. Prior to that race, she was an eight-length allowance winner at Oaklawn on Jan. 21.

"She worked three-quarters in 1:13.60, so she's ready," said Gary Hartlage, who trains High Heels for Anita Ebert. "Everything's a go. She's at her home base. This is her second home base, here and Churchill."

High Heels won her maiden at Churchill Downs on Nov. 8, then one start later was a good third to Lady Joanne in the track's Grade 2 Golden Rod. In the Silverbulletday, High Heels raced about nine lengths off the pace early, made a strong move around the final turn, and finished fifth behind front-running winner Appealing Zophie.

Hartlage said High Heels was taken back early in the Silverbulletday in anticipation of there being more pace in the race, but it did not materialize. The opening quarter of the 1 1/16-mile race went in 24.60 seconds, the half-mile in 48.80, and six furlongs in 1:13.60.

High Heels on Tuesday worked by herself under regular rider Joe Johnson. Clockers caught her in fractions of 23.60 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.80 for the half-mile mark, and 1:01.20 for five furlongs. She galloped out seven furlongs in 1:27.60.

"She's training good," said Hartlage. "She's doing exactly what I want her to do. I think we'll see a little different horse in the Honeybee."

Xchanger staying for Rebel

Xchanger, who finished a troubled fifth in the $250,000 Southwest on Feb. 19, is sticking around for the Grade 3, $300,000 Rebel on Marcho17, said his trainer, Mark Shuman. For the Southwest, Xchanger had vanned in from the Fair Hill training center in Maryland.

"We have an advantage now, training over the track and not shipping 18 hours," said Shuman.

Xchanger finished four lengths behind front-running winner Teuflesberg in the Southwest, and for the effort earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 93. It was the first start of the year for Xchanger, who last September won the Grade 3 Sapling at Monmouth. He also ran third in the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Jackpot on Dec. 1.

Flying First Class, who could be favored in the Rebel following a maiden win for which he earned a Beyer Figure of 107 - the best by a 3-year-old this year - breezed a half-mile in 48.20 seconds here Tuesday. The work was the second-fastest of 34 at the distance, with the fastest time belonging to stakes-winning sprinter Semaphore Man, who went in 47.20.

Brownie Points back on tab

Brownie Points, who as a 3-year-old last year won four stakes, is back working at Oaklawn. She drilled five furlongs here in 1:02.60 on Feb. 24, and should be seen during the latter half of the meet, said her trainer, Donnie Von Hemel.

"She went to South Carolina for a vacation," he said. "She basked in the sunshine. She started galloping there sometime around the first [of the year]. She's working, and hopefully, we'll have an out or two here at Oaklawn."

Brownie Points has won five stakes overall. Her wins last year included the $50,000 Martha Washington at Oaklawn and the $200,000 Marie P. DeBartolo Oaks on turf at Louisiana Downs.

* Sutra, winner of the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont Park on Oct. 14, will make her first start of the year in an optional claimer Friday at Oaklawn.

* The annual Chaplaincy Dinner will be held March 17 at the Hot Springs Country Club in Hot Springs, Ark.