Oceanwave being considered for Fantasy Stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Oceanwave has developed into a 3-year-old filly of note during the Oaklawn Park meet, and she could get a shot at the track’s richest offering for her division. The Grade 3, $400,000 Fantasy is April 4, and she is being considered for the 1 1/16-mile race, said trainer Wayne Catalano.

Oceanwave started her season with a first-level allowance sprint win Jan. 22 at Oaklawn. She then tried two turns and stakes company in the Grade 3, $150,000 Honeybee earlier this month at Oaklawn and ran second to Sarah Sis. Oceanwave had a less-than-ideal trip and closed from 10 lengths back to earn a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 77.

Catalano said plans are to monitor how the Fantasy field takes shape, and if the group is similar to the one Oceanwave faced in the Honeybee, she will target the race. Oceanwave is a daughter of Harlan’s Holiday who races for Gary and Mary West. She is out of the mare Tamboz, who is a full sister to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Tapizar.

Purr, who was fourth in the Honeybee following an impressive maiden special weight win at Oaklawn, will be considered for the Fantasy, said trainer Gary Hartlage. Purr is out of the mare French Kiss, who is a half-sister to the multiple Grade 1 winner On Fire Baby. Anita Cauley bred and owns Purr.

Hartlage said Treasure Box, an impressive debut winner and half-sister to On Fire Baby, is not under consideration for the Fantasy.

The Fantasy is the first stakes in Oaklawn’s annual Racing Festival of the South, when the track hosts at least one major stakes per card over the final week of its meet. The series closes April 11 with the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby.

◗ Tight Britches, who won seven of her eight starts last year, seeks to win her second straight race of 2015 and her third straight overall Sunday in the featured eighth race, an optional $20,000 claimer for fillies and mares at six furlongs. Quincy Hamilton has the mount for trainer Karl Broberg.

◗ Joe Towns, a longtime tip sheet author at such tracks as Oaklawn and Lone Star Park near Dallas, died Thursday at a Hot Springs hospital, according to a friend. The distinctive orange tip sheet Towns put out was a mainstay at Oaklawn for more than 25 years. Towns lived in Dallas.

◗ For the remainder of the meet, there will be Wednesday racing at Oaklawn.