It Tiz Well travels in quest of Kentucky Oaks points in Honeybee

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – It Tiz Well has come to Oaklawn Park from her base at Santa Anita in search of Kentucky Oaks qualifying points. She will be one of the top contenders Saturday in the Grade 3, $200,000 Honeybee, which drew a field of 11 when entries were taken Wednesday.

The Honeybee, at 1 1/16 miles, carries 85 eligibility points for the Kentucky Oaks. The points are to be divided among the top four finishers 50-20-10-5.

It Tiz Well was sitting in the 24th spot in the latest points standings, having a total of four points from her runner-up finish to stablemate Unique Bella in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez at Santa Anita. Subsequently, It Tiz Well won a first-level allowance Feb. 3.

“We’re looking to stay on the Oaks trail, and the owners, Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, wanted to try to get some points there at Oaklawn,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said of targeting the Honeybee.

It Tiz Well will be making her two-turn debut and will break from post 6. Corey Nakatani has the mount.

The field, from the rail with riders, is: Chanel’s Legacy, Alex Birzer; Elate, Jose Lezcano; Someday Soon, Walter De La Cruz; My Sweet Stella, Ramon Vazquez; Perfect Wife, Corey Lanerie; It Tiz Well; Tapa Tapa Tapa, Jesus Castanon; Ever So Clever, Luis Contreras; Tap of War, Calvin Borel; Lovely Bernadette, Alex Canchari; and Benner Island, Geovanni Franco.

The Honeybee is a stepping-stone to the Grade 3, $400,000 Fantasy, a race Hollendorfer has won with Blind Luck and Lite Light. The Fantasy will be run April 14 at Oaklawn.

The Honeybee will share a card with the $125,000 Hot Springs for 4-year-olds and up at six furlongs. The field, from the rail with riders: Holy Boss, Luis Contreras; Fish Trappe Road, Ramon Vazquez; Ivan Fallunovalot, Calvin Borel; Whitmore, Ricardo Santana Jr.; Candy Ruby, Declan Cannon; Recount, Chris Landeros; Chief Cicatriz, Channing Hill; and Storm Advisory, Geovanni Franco.

The forecast for Saturday is a high of 52 degrees and a 50 percent chance of precipitation, according to The Weather Channel.

Van Meter gives Someday Soon shot in Honeybee

Trainer Will Van Meter won the first race of his career in March 2014 at Oaklawn and since then has built a quality local barn that includes Grade 3, $200,000 Honeybee contender Someday Soon. She enters Saturday’s race off a 3 3/4-length win in an optional $50,000 claiming route here Feb. 12, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 85. The start was her first at 3, following a troubled 10th-place finish in the Grade 2 Golden Rod at Churchill Downs.

“I think she deserves a shot,” said Van Meter. “In the Golden Rod, she kind of lost the race at the break. She ran a deceivingly good race that day with a bad trip. She’s very classy and trains very well. We’re pretty bullish on her.”

Someday Soon is already a stakes winner, having taken the $150,000 John W. Galbreath on Oct. 29 at Mahoning Valley. She is a daughter of Proud Citizen who races for Tommy Ligon, and she is one of 16 horses Van Meter, 33, has at Oaklawn after starting with two head in 2014.