Quietside breaks through with Honeybee score

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Quietside secured a spot in the starting gate for the Kentucky Oaks on Sunday, when she prompted the pace and went on to a one-length win over Five G in the Grade 3, $500,000 Honeybee on Sunday at Oaklawn Park. It was another 3 1/2 lengths back in third to 4-5 favorite Muhimma.

The Honeybee rewarded its first five finishers Kentucky Oaks points on a scale of 50-25-15-10-5. Necessity finished fourth, while the fifth-place finisher was Quickick.

The Honeybee was originally scheduled to be run Saturday, but because of a winter storm system the race was moved to Sunday. The field of 13 was a deep one and Quietside went off at 10-1 despite running second in last year’s Grade 1 Spinaway and Grade 2 Golden Rod and third in the Grade 1 Alcibiades. The Honeybee was Quietside's first stakes victory.

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“We got to see the filly that we’ve been believing in from the very beginning,” said winning trainer John Ortiz. “Five starts and never been off the board and she wins this race decisively and rightly so as she is a horse with immense talent.”

Quietside ($22.40) broke well and settled into a tracking position just off Five G, who broke sharply from post 13, crossed over, and proceeded to set fractions of 23.19 for the opening quarter, 46.87 for the half-mile and 1:11.81 for six furlongs. Quietside moved past that one in the stretch and covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.63.

Jose Ortiz was aboard Quietside, who gave him his fourth win on the card and second in a stakes behind the Carousel with Justique. Ortiz had worked Quietside at Fair Grounds ahead of the Honeybee after inclement weather disrupted training at her base of Oaklawn.

“I liked her when I worked her,” Jose Ortiz told publicity at Oaklawn. “I rode her with a lot of confidence. I broke and made an early move to the first turn because I wanted to get a forward position. She was traveling good. I was waiting for the right moment to make my move. When I did it, she was there for me.”

Plans going forward for Quietside are to be determined, said John Ortiz.

“Obviously we want to stay on the path to get to the main event, pick and choose our spots,” he said. “We’re going to have to consider the Fantasy. It’s another stepping-stone to get to the lilies [for winning the Kentucky Oaks].”

The Fantasy is next month at Oaklawn.

Ortiz said options will be discussed with owner Shortleaf Stable and racing manager John Gasper.

Quietside was bred by Shortleaf. She is a daughter of Malibu Moon and the Grade 2 winner Benner Island. She is now 2 for 6 for earnings of $552,200.

* Bru Na Boinne ($12.40) was up for a neck win over Majestic Oops in the $145,000 Trivista, which was an overnight stakes for fillies and mares. Irad Ortiz Jr. rode the winner for trainer Bret Calhoun. Bru Na Boinne covered the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:43.63.

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