Decelerator, winner of the Marsha Washington Stakes as the favorite one month ago, battles Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) runner-up Beautician in the $125,000 Honeybee Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn Park March 13.
The 1 1/16-mile Honeybee attracted a field of nine 3-year-old fillies. It goes as the eighth race at 4:42 p.m. on a program that also includes the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (gr. II).
Beautician, who has been training well at Gulfstream Park, makes her first start since being eased as the 17-10 choice in the Hollywood Starlet (gr. I) Dec. 20. She will shed blinkers for her 2010 debut for trainer Ken McPeek and owner Peter J. Callahan.
The gray/roan daughter of Dehere finished just three-quarters of a length behind She Be Wild in the Juvenile Fillies prior to the Starlet, and also ran second in Saratoga's Spinaway Stakes (gr. I) last year. Beautician broke her maiden at first asking last June at Churchill Downs but is winless in five starts since, including three runner-up finishes. She has banked $486,625.
Robbie Albarado, who rode Beautician in the Breeders' Cup, regains the mount. They will break from post 5 under 115 pounds, seven fewer than the top-weighted Decelerator.
Decelerator is one of five fillies in the field coming out of the one-mile Martha Washington. With Terry Thompson aboard, the Wayne Lukas-trained Decelerator spurted through an opening along the rail leaving the quarter pole and held sway through the stretch to score by one length.
Winner of Churchill Downs' Debutante Stakes (gr. II) in her second start June 27, Decelerator snapped a string of three consecutive second-place finishes with her win in the Martha Washington. Another daughter of Dehere, Decelerator has three wins and three seconds in nine starts with earnings of $207,277 for owner Westrock Stables.
Thompson will be replaced in the Honeybee by Corey Nakatani. Decelerator drew post 2.
Other Honeybee entrants exiting the Martha Washington are Bell's Shoes (third), Tiz Miz Sue (fourth), Laura Babe (fifth) and Bella Diamante (seventh).
Brereton C. Jones' homebred No Such Word makes her stakes debut for trainer Cindy Jones after a 2 1/2-length tally in a one-mile optional claiming allowance race over a sloppy Oaklawn strip Feb. 14. Thompson rides the Canadian Frontier filly. She drew the rail.
$125,000 Honeybee Stakes (gr. III, Race 8, 4:42 p.m.), 3-Year-Old Fillies, 1 1/16 Miles
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. No Such Word (KY), T J Thompson, 117, C Jones
2. Decelerator (KY), C S Nakatani, 122, D W Lukas
3. Bell's Shoes (KY), J K Court, 115, W H Fires
4. Tiz Miz Sue (KY), A Castellano Jr., 115, S Hobby
5. Beautician (KY), R Albarado, 115, K G McPeek
6. Tap Tap Tapping (KY), F Lenclud, 115, D R Vance
7. Laura Babe (KY), L S Quinonez, 117, R D Jackson
8. Bella Diamante (KY), Q Hamilton, 115, A Milligan
9. Dixie Hearth (KY), M C Berry, 117, J S Offolter
Blinkers On: Tiz Miz Sue; Blinkers Off: Beautician
Decelerator most recently won the Martha Washington Stakes on Feb 13.
Coady Photography