Spring Included faces tough rivals in Spring Fever Stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Spring Included lost a heartbreaker last month when Sugar Shock came rolling down the center of the track to nab the front-runner on the wire in the American Beauty Stakes at Oaklawn Park. But that’s probably news to Spring Included.

“I don’t think she knew that horse caught her,” said Steve Hobby, who trains Spring Included.

So, it will be with confidence that Spring Included enters the $100,000 Spring Fever on Saturday. The 5 1/2-furlong race for older fillies and mares highlights a nine-race program at Oaklawn. The field of eight lacks Sugar Shock, but Spring Included has such formidable rivals to deal with as Lasting Bubbles, a multiple stakes winner with a 3-for-5 record at Oaklawn; Haveyougoneaway, a recent optional-claiming winner; and Boss Barney’s Babe, who is making her first start since finishing third in last year’s Spring Fever.

KEY CONTENDERS

Spring Included (Last 3 Beyers: 79-62-79)

◗ She was making her first start since November in the American Beauty and showed excellent speed from the No. 12 hole, dueling through an opening quarter in 21.68 seconds and a half-mile in 46.04. Spring Included continued at a rapid pace to the wire in the six-furlong stakes, ending up a half-length behind Sugar Shock.

“I thought it was a huge race,” said Hobby. “She just kept digging and kept digging.”

◗ Since the race, Haveyougoneaway, who was third in the American Beauty, has come back to take an optional $62,500 claimer at Oaklawn.

◗ There is a chance of rain Saturday, and a wet track should not impact Spring Included, who races for Alex and JoAnn Lieblong.

“She broke her maiden in the slop at Churchill Downs,” Hobby said. “She kind of takes her track with her. She’s run well on Poly, in the mud, on the grass. She’s one of those special horses.”

◗ Joe Rocco Jr. has the mount from post 7.

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Boss Barney’s Babe (Last 3 Beyers: 87-85-88)

◗ She got caught up in traffic when a fast-closing third in last year’s Spring Fever.

“We were looking forward to the next stakes, felt really good about it, and she got injured,” said Bret Calhoun, who trains Boss Barney’s Babe. “She fractured her withers. It took a while for that to heal up. She’s doing very well. I’d just much rather be coming into it with a race under my belt.”

◗ Cliff Berry has the mount from post 2.