Undefeated Filly Tough in Honeybee

[Wandering Eyes]

Undefeated Ring Leader (Paynter) looks to add another notch to her belt with a win in Saturday’s 8 1/2-furlong GIII Honeybee S. at Oaklawn. A front-running debut winner going five furlongs at Canterbury last June, the Novogratz Racing Stables runner spent the the remainder of the season on the sidelines before returning with a muddy 5 1/4-length win while trying six panels in an Oaklawn optional claimer Jan. 24. Trying stakes company for the first time in the Feb. 15 Dixie Belle S. over that track and trip, she came from just off the pace to make it three straight for trainer Roberton McLean. Armed with speed in a race that doesn’t appear to have an abundance of it, the filly gets the services of David Cohen for the first time for her route debut.

Trainer Ken McPeek offers a two-pronged attack with Susan Moulton, David Bemsen and Magdalena Racing’s Motu (Paynter) and C&H Diamond Racing’s Back in Charge (Will Take Charge). The former graduated at second asking, sprinting six furlongs at Keeneland Oct. 5, before finishing runner-up in her next two starts, the most recent a 3/4-length defeat by the classy Finite (Munnings) in the GII Golden Rod S. at Churchill Downs Nov. 30. Favored in the Feb. 8 Suncoast S. at Tampa, Motu flattened late to be third, beaten 5 3/4 lengths behind Lucrezia (Into Mischief). McPeek also saddles first-out winner Back in Charge, who came from off the pace to win at odds of 18-1 going a mile at Gulfstream Feb. 9. Never one to be ignored is trainer Steve Asmussen, who offers up Ed and Susie Orr’s Alta’s Award (Tonalist). Third in her career debut sprinting six furlongs in the Fair Grounds mud Dec. 21, she rebounded to score by three in her route bow at the New Orleans oval Jan. 17 before adding another tally against optional claiming company over that track and trip Feb. 14. Ricardo Santana Jr., who was aboard for her first two starts, gets back on board for her stakes debut.

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