Promise Me Silver doubtful for Honeybee Stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Grade 3, $150,000 Honeybee, to be run at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, has been something of a revolving door, with champion Take Charge Brandi passing on the race in favor of next weekend’s Rebel Stakes and the undefeated Promise Me Silver unlikely to start as of Thursday due to the latest round of winter weather that has landed in Arkansas.

But despite the changing status of two of the most accomplished 3-year-old fillies stabled in the region, the Honeybee has drawn a strong and interesting cast to chase the race’s 85 qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks. Sarah Sis, the runner-up to Take Charge Brandi in the Jan. 31 Martha Washington, will start as a top contender in the 1 1/16-mile Honeybee, while Super Saks and Desert Valley each come off impressive maiden wins. Pangburn, meanwhile, was a dramatic last-to-first allowance winner Feb. 20 in her first out since running second in the Grade 2 Pocahontas at Churchill Downs.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Promise Me Silver (Last 3 Beyers: 80-78-83)

If she starts, she could go favored. Promise Me Silver is undefeated in six races, with her last five wins coming in stakes at tracks such as Churchill Downs, Fair Grounds, and Oaklawn.

The Honeybee would mark her two-turn debut following a seven-furlong stakes win in hand at Sam Houston.

Bret Calhoun, who trains Promise Me Silver, called her status unlikely after a winter storm forced the cancellation of racing Thursday. His concerns are the road conditions while shipping Promise Me Silver from Evangeline Training Center near Lafayette, La., and unpredictable track conditions due to shifting temperatures. Calhoun said he did not want a deep track for Promise Me Silver.

“The weather would have to take a big turn for the better,” he said Thursday.

Super Saks (Last 3 Beyers: 90-70-NA)

She has made a splash in her two starts at Oaklawn, running third to Promise Me Silver in the $100,000 Dixie Belle on
Jan. 15, then rolling to a blowout maiden special weight sprint win Jan. 30. For the latter race, she earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90.

“She’s a very talented filly,” said D. Wayne Lukas, who trains Super Saks for Robert C. Baker and William L. Mack. “She’s special.”
Lukas likes the move to 1 1/16 miles for Super Saks, who is a candidate to wire the field under Terry Thompson.

“She’s got great cruising speed, great tactical speed, and a pedigree that says she’s supposed to go two turns,” Lukas said. “She’s a Sky Mesa out of an Unbridled’s Song mare.”

Super Saks will break from post 3.