New Money Honey looks to end drought in American Oaks

ARCADIA, Calif. – The last time New Money Honey was sent to Santa Anita, she won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in November 2016 in a career-defining performance. On Saturday, New Money Honey is back at Santa Anita for the Grade 1 American Oaks, a race that can revive her season.

New Money Honey has not won in nearly six months, the longest drought of her remarkable career. A win in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks on turf July 8 was followed by a fifth in the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga in August in her only career start on dirt and a disappointing fifth as the 5-2 favorite in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup on Oct. 14 at Keeneland.

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Keeneland’s turf course may have been the problem, according to trainer Chad Brown. He is quick to note that New Money Honey was sixth in the Grade 3 Appalachian Stakes there last April in her first start of 2017.

“The only times she’s run at Keeneland, she’s not run to her standards,” Brown said. “She could be one of those horses that doesn’t like Keeneland’s turf course. We’re hoping that’s the reason.”

Owned by Bob Edwards’s e Five Racing Thoroughbreds, New Money Honey is the most accomplished filly in the $300,000 American Oaks at 1 1/4 miles on turf, a race that features several notable runners based at other tracks.

Brown also starts Rymska, who is unbeaten in three stakes this year. Daddys Lil Darling, a stakes winner at Kentucky Downs in September who was second in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, will start for trainer Ken McPeek.

The field of 10 has three other stakes winners in Desert Duchess, Kathy’s Song, and Madam Dancealot.

Madam Dancealot, trained at Santa Anita by Richard Baltas, was third in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.

The American Oaks is the richest of nine races on a program that begins at 12:30 p.m. Pacific and includes the Grade 3 Robert Frankel Stakes for fillies and mares on turf and the Grade 3 Midnight Lute Stakes for sprinters.

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KEY CONTENDERS

New Money Honey, by Medaglia d’Oro
Last 3 Beyers: 89-85-88

◗ New Money Honey has won four of eight starts, with all the wins in stakes. She has won at the American Oaks distance in the Belmont Oaks.

◗ The recent loss in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup is more of a concern and led to a lighter training schedule in the weeks that followed.

“We freshened her up a little bit for this race,” Brown said. “We’re optimistic she can get back to her form.”

Rymska, by Le Havre
Last 3 Beyers: 93-88-86

◗ Rymska was fifth in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf behind New Money Honey and has not lost since, winning stakes at Gulfstream Park, Laurel, and Aqueduct. Brown said the filly was injured earlier this year, which limited her activity through the year.

“She had an unfortunate setback when the season was starting to gear up,” he said. “She’s 100 percent now.”

◗ Rymska won the Winter Memories Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf Nov. 23 at Aqueduct. The American Oaks will be the longest race of her career.

“She looks good now, and hopefully she can get the mile and a quarter,” Brown said. “Given her running style and the way she trains, I think she can handle it.”

Daddys Lil Darling, by Scat Daddy
Last 3 Beyers: 91-100-92

◗ Daddys Lil Darling won the Dueling Grounds Oaks at 1 5/16 miles on turf at Kentucky Downs in September and was a fast-closing third as the even-money favorite in the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf Nov. 24 at Churchill Downs.

McPeek said Saturday’s distance is a better fit.

“I love the distance for her,” he said. “The mile and a sixteenth was too short.”