Oaklawn Park: Euphrosyne placed first in Honeybee

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Euphrosyne became a stakes winner on a disqualification Saturday at Oaklawn Park, when Sugar Shock, who finished first in the Grade 3, $150,000 Honeybee, was placed second after impeding runner-up Euphrosyne in the stretch. Euphrosyne paid $19.20 for trainer Steve Asmussen, and picked up 50 preference points for the Kentucky Oaks.

The Honeybee, a mile and a sixteenth race for 3-year-old fillies, served as Oaklawn’s stepping-stone to the Grade 3, $400,000 Fantasy on April 5.

Euphrosyne settled in a stalking position in the Honeybee, as Taris made a determined run for the lead into the first turn and put up fractions of 23.10 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.06 for the half-mile and 1:12.10 for six furlongs, dogged along the way by Sugar Shock.

Sugar Shock took the lead into the stretch and Euphrosyne launched her bid towards the middle of the track. Past the eighth pole, Sugar Shock began to drift out and appeared to make contact with Euphrosyne, who regained her stride and dug in to finish second to the leader by a neck. Ricardo Santana Jr., the rider of Euphrosyne, lodged an objection against the first-place finisher, as did apprentice Drayden Van Dyke, who finished third aboard Please Explain.

After a lengthy inquiry, stewards allowed the objection by Santana, but did not allow the objection from Van Dyke. Please Explain, who rallied between both Euphorsyne and Sugar Shock, finished three-quarters of a length behind Euphrosyne in third in the Honeybee.

Taris, the favorite, finished sixth.

For the win, Euphrosyne picked up $90,000. She has now won 2 of 6 starts and $166,200.

She is a daughter of Harlan’s Holiday and the mare Three Graces. In Greek mythology, one of the “Three Graces” is Euphrosyne. In the past 50 years there have been four registered Thoroughbreds named Euphrosyne, the most notable being a multiple stakes-winning mare who raced in New York between 1979-1981. There is also a saint named Euphrosyne.

WinStar Farm bred the Honeybee winner, who races for the partnership of Gillian Campbell, Ralph Stayer, Shelly Stayer, Dan Clark, and Greg Skoda. Asmussen said Euphrosyne was a private purchase following her debut, which was a runner-up finish in a maiden special weight at Belmont Park. She’s since won a maiden special weight at Fair Grounds and was second in the $100,000 Martha Washington at Oaklawn before taking the Honeybee.

Sugar Shock earned 20 preference points towards the Oaks, while 10 went to Please Explain and five to Kiss Moon.