The Honeybee – Grade 3 – $300.000
OP – 1 1/16 Mile – Dirt
For Fillies Three Years Old
February 25, 2023
There is reason to be excited about this contest. Not only are there 100 KYO points at stake (50 to the winner), but last year’s winner, Exactly, went on to win the KY Oaks. In fact, the last two KY Oaks winners have come from the Honeybee. Naples won in 2021 and also won the BC Distaff that year. Will the same thing be true of this year’s winner? There are exciting newcomers like Blind Appeal and seasoned runners like Beautifully Grusome and Proud Spell and everything in between. Most of them have earned at least 1 KY Oaks point so far, and the points given for this contest could really shake things up.
Bravo My Beast 21 Points
Blind Appeal 20 Points
Proud Spell 13 Points
With Criminals 10 Points
Muddy Buddy 9 Points
Spring Street 8 Points
Shadow State 6 Points
Beautifully Grusome 6 Points
Doctor Quinn 3 Points
Here’s the field:
1 Shadow State (Smokey Stover)
Broke her maiden at first asking at SUN in December. Followed that up with a third-place finish in the $200.000 Martha Washington here at OP and earned 6 KYO points in the process. Working very well.
2 Spring Street (High Voltage)
Second in the Forward Gal (Grade 3) last out. That was enough to earn her 8 KYO points. Could get a piece of the purse, and a win wouldn’t be a surprise.
3 Beautifully Grusome (TwinTowersRacing)
Broke her maiden in August, then put together a string of first and second place performances, including a win in the $200.000 Rags to Riches at CD. A second-place finish in the Golden Rod (Grade 2) earned her 6 KYO points. Tried the boys in the Southwest last out but couldn’t hit the board. Should be more competitive here.
4 Muddy Buddy (Mb Stables)
Never worse than third in five career starts. This filly has earned 9 KYO points with a third in the Golden Rod (Grade 2) and a third in the Las Virgenes (Grade 3) last out. Like her chances in this one. Look for her close up early and she very well could still be there at the wire.
5 Dancing Cracker (Martyparty)
Makes her stakes debut here after a maiden win and a win in N1X company last out. Very promising filly but may need more experience to compete with these.
6 Bravo My Beast (Waldo)
Won the $100.000 Busanda last out after finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Demoiselle. Both efforts carried KYO points, giving her a total of 21. Doesn’t need to be on or near the lead, though has won from close up. Likes the winner’s circle and may get there again here.
7 Temperature (Aer Stables)
Won at first asking, then came back with a win in the $125.000 My Dear. After a poor performance in the Sorrento (Grade 2), she came back with a third in the DMR Debutante (Grade 1) and a win in the Mazarine (Grade 3). Like Beautifully Grusome, she tried the boys in the Southwest last out and finished ninth. A top effort could get her money and some of those coveted KYO points.
8 Proud Spell (Fractious)
After getting off to a rocky start in graded company, she won the Chandelier Stakes (Grade 2) which earned her KYO points and a start in the BC Juvenile Fillies. That wasn’t her day, and she finished way up the track. She came back in the Demoiselle and finished third for even more KYO points.
9 Blind Appeal (Nakamura Stables)
Unbeaten, lightly raced filly. With a win in the Santa Ynez (Grade 2) in just her third start, this is one to watch. I would say experience may be her downfall, but she doesn’t seem to need experience. She just runs. This is the longest she’s gone so far, though, so distance has to be a question mark. Will be fun to watch.
10 Doctor Quinn (Mb Stables)
She’s been close in graded company and has managed to collect 3 KYO points in the process. You just know she’s due for a win, but this is a tough spot and will take a big effort.
11 Balius (Threshold)
Making her graded stakes debut here after winning the $65.000 BorderPlex last start. Consistent filly has been in the money five of six starts. May be asking too much in this field.
12 With Criminals (Big Guns Stables)
Earned 10 KYO points in her last two starts, a third in the Santa Ynez (Grade 2) and a fourth in the $200.000 Martha Washington. Another one that might benefit from a little more experience.
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