Pure Clan, Eight Belles face off in Honeybee

Undefeated Grade 2 winner PURE CLAN (Pure Prize) will hook up with impressive stakes victress EIGHT BELLES (Unbridled's Song) for the first time on Saturday when the two break from Oaklawn Park's starting gate in the $100,000 Honeybee S. (G3). Trained by Bob Holthus, Pure Clan has yet to face a challenge from a rival in four starts, but has overcome trouble to keep her record perfect. The chestnut lass was a 7 3/4-length winner of her maiden debut, which has been her only clear trip to date. She ran six wide in her next race, an allowance; bobbled at the start and squeezed before capturing the Pocahontas S. (G3); and bobbled, was steadied and five wide in the Golden Rod S. (G2) last out. Julien Leparoux, aboard for all those starts, will try to give Pure Clan a cleaner trip in the Honeybee.

Eight Belles recorded the largest stakes-winning margin at Oaklawn Park since its inception in 1904, scoring by 13 1/2 lengths when taking the Martha Washington S. last out. That was the Larry Jones trainee's first black-type attempt, and she continued her trend of winning by huge margins. The gray lass broke her maiden by 10 lengths at Delaware Park in late November, and posted a 15-length win in an allowance prior to her stakes victory most recently. Ramon Dominguez will be in the three-year-old's saddle for the first time on Saturday.

While Pure Clan and Eight Belles are the top draws in the Honeybee, trainer D. Wayne Lukas will try to slip COZY MESA (Sky Mesa) into the winner's circle. The Hall of Fame conditioner captured the first four runnings of the test, and added a fifth win in the 1 1/16-mile event last year. Cozy Mesa brings two wins in the Honeybee, but was well back when facing graded rivals in the Forward Gal S. (G2) and Old Hat S. (G2) in her past two. The dark bay filly could use the added ground in this one, however, to give a better accounting of herself.

KADIRA (Kafwain), second but placed first via disqualification of the winner in the Dixie Belle S. last out, drew the rail under Larry Melancon. To their outside will be Cozy Mesa, Chris Emigh; VANCY PANTS (Van Nistelrooy), Terry Thompson; Pure Clan; SALOMEA (Milwaukee Brew), Calvin Borel; and Eight Belles, Ramon Dominguez.
Cozy Mesa, Pure Clan and Eight Belles will each carry 119 pounds. The rest of the field will tote 117 pounds.