Sugar Shock, who was disqualified from first in the Honeybee Stakes (gr. III), moved one step closer to possible redemption in the $400,000 Fantasy Stakes (gr. III) with a five-furlong breeze March 30 at Oaklawn Park.
On Cloud Nine's 3-year-old daughter of Candy Ride was timed in 1:02 1/5 under regular rider Channing Hill. Sugar Shock received an endorsement from trainer Doug Anderson for the April 5 Fantasy, Oaklawn's major prep for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I).
"She went nice and easy," said Anderson of the drill, which was the 21st swiftest of 46 at the distance on the morning. "She went the way we wanted and we're still on target for the Fantasy."
Sugar Shock, a 7-1 shot in the 1 1/16-mile Honeybee March 8, was disqualified from her neck victory for lugging out and impeding runner-up Euphrosyne a furlong from the wire.
The Honeybee was the stakes debut for Sugar Shock, who has won two of five starts and earned $103,130.
Please Explain, third in the Honeybee, worked a half mile Sunday in :48 4/5 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01 4/5. The Curlin filly, who had shipped in from Tampa Bay Downs prior to the Honeybee, has remained in Hot Springs since the race.
"She did it on her own," trainer Tom Proctor said via phone from Kentucky. "With this work, she's definitely on track for the Fantasy."
Jockey Drayden Van Dyke, rider of Please Explain, also lodged a complaint of foul against Sugar Shock in the Honeybee but it was disallowed.
Please Explain, a homebred for Niall Racing, finished one length behind Sugar Shock. She heads into the Fantasy with a 2-2-2 mark from six starts and earnings of $93,200.
Nominations for the Fantasy closed with 22 fillies made eligible for the 1 1/16-mile race. Florida shipper Stopchargingmaria, trained by Todd Pletcher, is scheduled to arrive March 31. Entries will be drawn April 2.
