Oaklawn: American Sugar returns to sprint for Instant Racing

American Sugar will be cutting back to six furlongs in the Instant Racing for 3-year-old fillies on Friday at Oaklawn Park. The race is being held at one turn for the first time since its inaugural running in 1996, when it was run as the Althea. She is part of a 10-horse field that includes Blueeyesintherein, making her first start since winning last summer’s Grade 3 Debutante at Churchill Downs, and Boss Barney’s Babe, a recent allowance winner at Fair Grounds.

American Sugar is a three-time stakes winner at sprint distances, among her victories the $50,000 Dixie Belle at Oaklawn on Jan. 20.

“I like going six furlongs, a lot,” trainer Lynn Chleborad said of the distance move with American Sugar. “I think six furlongs, seven-eighths and even a one-turn mile might be all right. She went a mile and a sixteenth last time and it was a stretch for her. She ran third, beat some nice fillies, but as far as being her best spot, at this point, I think she’ll sprint well on this track.”

Chleboard said her goal has been to “put speed back into” American Sugar with some shorter works heading into the Instant Racing. Alex Birzer has the mount form post 3.

“I expect her to be back stalking, that’s what we see in her,” said Chleborad.

◗ HRTV will be onsite Friday at Oaklawn.