Amy's Challenge Aims for Another Spring Fever Win
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Photo: Coady Photography
Amy's Challenge wins the 2019 Spring Fever Stakes at Oaklawn Park
In her second start off an extended layoff, multiple stakes winner Amy's Challenge will look to defend her title in the $125,000 Spring Fever Stakes Feb. 29 at Oaklawn Park.
Last year, Novogratz Racing Stables' Amy's Challenge opened in the stretch to score an 8 1/4-length victory in the 5 1/2-furlong test that has drawn entries from six older fillies and mares.
The daughter of Artie Schiller followed her Spring Fever victory—completed in a stakes-record time of 1:03.10—with a second to Spiced Perfection in the Madison Stakes (G1) at Keeneland and a third to Mia Mischief in the Humana Distaff Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs.
Trained by McLean Robertson, Amy's Challenge didn't start again in 2019 after the Humana Distaff. She made her 5-year-old debut in the American Beauty Stakes Feb. 1 at Oaklawn, where she led early before fading to fourth as the 4-5 favorite. She won the six-furlong American Beauty in 2019.
Video: Spring Fever S. (BT)
Five of Saturday's entries were either on the lead or within a head of the lead in their previous races. With those early runners signed on, Robertson likes the post 4 draw for Amy's Challenge.
"I think I drew outside the real speed," Robertson said. "It's not like she won't rate. But 5 1/2, she'll know how far she's running. I was glad I didn't get the 1 hole."
Amy's Challenge is the second choice on the morning line at 5-2 as grade 2 winner Break Even is favored at 2-1 in her season debut. The 4-year-old daughter of Country Day won her first six starts, including a frontrunning score in the Eight Belles Stakes Presented by Derby City Gaming (G2) at Churchill, and wrapped up her 2019 season with a runner-up finish in the Prioress Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course for trainer Brad Cox.
The lone horse in the field who regularly races off the pace is Lawrence Roman's What a Fox, a daughter of Bernardini who enters in top form for trainer Robertino Diodoro. What a Fox has a pair of allowance-level victories at the meet, rallying from fourth Jan. 25 and from fifth Feb. 7.
"On paper, it's a Quarter Horse race," Diodoro said. "There's some wicked speed in there. On paper, it looks like it sets up perfect. …We'll find out what happens." Oaklawn Park, Saturday, February 29, 2020, Race 9Entries: Spring Fever S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Artistic Diva (IL)
Tyler Baze
115
John W. Sadler
9/2
2
2Mt. Brave (KY)
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
115
Steven M. Asmussen
9/2
3
3Break Even (KY)
Joseph Talamo
115
Brad H. Cox
2/1
4
4Amy's Challenge (KY)
Alex L. Canchari
115
McLean Robertson
5/2
5
5Midnight Fantasy (LA)
Martin Garcia
115
Joe Sharp
8/1
6
6What a Fox (KY)
Orlando Mojica
122
Robertino Diodoro
5/1
