House of Fortune takes Fantasy Stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - House of Fortune is headed to the Kentucky Oaks after she powered to a length and three quarter win over Island Sand in the Grade 2, $200,000 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Friday. It was another four lengths back in third to Stellar Jayne.

House of Fortune, a quick filly who was expected to be on the pace from her rail post, raced along the rail in fourth as Yoursmineours and Island Sand raced together through fractions of 23.25 seconds for the opening quarter, 46.79 seconds for the half-mile mark, and 1:11.15 for six furlongs. Into the stretch, House of Fortune angled outside of the leaders and went on to cover the mile and a sixteenth in 1:42.62.

House of Fortune was ridden by Alex Solis and paid $3.40 as the 4-5 favorite in the field of 11.

"She's never been that far back at home," said Ron McAnally, a Southern California-based horseman who trains House of Fortune. "[Alex] said she was standing in the gate too long.

"She didn't have clear sailing and still overcame it."

McAnally had planned to run House of Fortune in the Ashland at Keeneland last week, but when the filly had to abort a six-furlong work for that race because of a loose horse in her path, he pointed her for the Fantasy.

The win was the second straight stakes victory for House of Fortune, who was a 17-length winner of the $77,000 California Oaks at Golden Gate Fields one start prior. She earned $120,000 for her victory, which improved her record to five wins from eight starts and earnings of $391,094 for Arnold Zetcher.

McAnally said provided House of Fortune comes out of the Fantasy in good order, she will be pointed for the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on April 30. House of Fortune was McAnally's second Fantasy winner. He won the race in 1992 with Race The Wild Wind.

Attendance at Oaklawn on Friday was 25,754, while handle on the 11-race program was $6.2 million.