House of Fortune, a dark bay daughter of
Southern California invader House of Fortune may have punched her ticket for the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) thanks to a convincing 1 3/4-length win in the $200,000 Fantasy Stakes (gr. II) for 3-year-old fillies at Oaklawn Park Friday.Trained by Ron McAnally, House of Fortune angled three-wide off the rail at the top of the stretch to chase down pacesetters Yoursmineours and Island Sand, and finished with authority while in hand for jockey Alex Solis. The time for the 1 1/16-mile feature was a solid 1:42 3/5. Free House–So Fortunate (by Garthorn), captured her first graded stakes.McAnally said he planned to send House of Fortune in Keeneland's Ashland (gr. I) last weekend."We had planned to go to the Ashland (at Keeneland), but there was a scary accident on the track one morning and the rider had to pull her up before her move was over," McAnally said. "So we had to go to our second option, which was the Fantasy. Now we'll try the Kentucky Oaks (April 30 at Churchill Downs)." Island Sand was a stubborn second with Terry Thompson aboard, while another Southern California shipper, Stellar Jayne, ridden by John McKee, finished third, four lengths behind the runner-up.Breaking from the inside post, Solis settled House of Fortune in fourth at the rail as Yoursmineours and Island Sand dueled in head-and-head fashion through lively splits of :23 1/5, :46 3/5 and 1:11. As Island Sand edged to the lead on the turn, House of Fortune, who had moved up on the leaders, swung into gear and soon had command with a furlong to go. She finished evenly as Island Sand stayed on to the wire. Stellar Jayne ran on late for third.House of Fortune was heavily favored at 7-10 on the strength of a 17-length win in the California Oaks at Golden Gate Fields March 6. She improved to 5-1-1 in her eight starts with earnings of $391,094 for owner Arnold Zetcher.John Treasure bred House of Fortune in California.Disappointing efforts came from Shadow Cast, who rallied mildly to finish fifth after being rank early, and 9-2 second choice Miss Coronado, who was a fading eighth.The winner paid $3.40, $3.20 and $2.60. Island Sand returned $5.20 and $3.80. Stellar Jayne's show was $3.60. The exacta was worth $30.60.Elusive Diva was fourth, followed by Shadow Cast, Yoursmineours, Stephan's Angel, Miss Coronado, Platinum Ballet, Slewpy's Storm and Tre Blonde Beauty.(Chart, Equibase)