'Eight' Has Three To Beat in Fantasy

The scheduling of the $250,000 Fantasy S. (G2) could not have worked out better for the imposing EIGHT BELLES (Unbridled's Song), less so for her actual challengers and other Fantasy hopefuls. The presence of the gray miss, who has won her last three starts by a combined 29 3/4 lengths, left Sunday's Fantasy at Oaklawn Park with just a field of four, with Eight Belles and Grade 2 winner PURE CLAN (Pure Prize) the clear standouts.

Trainer Larry Jones, who toyed with the idea of starting Eight Belles in next Saturday's Arkansas Derby (G2) against colts, said that Oaklawn's decision this year to move up the Fantasy from the day before the Arkansas Derby to the week before played a key role in his decision to run his filly in the Fantasy.

"If the Derby and the Fantasy were raced back-to-back as in the past, I would have cross-entered Eight Belles in both races," Jones said. "Then I would have run her in the Derby unless she drew an outside post. But, with the races a week apart, I couldn't take the chance of missing the Fantasy.

"Given the choice, I would rather win the Fantasy than run second in the Derby," Jones added.

If Eight Belles continues to run as well as she has in her last three races, which include blowout victories in a Fair Grounds allowance and a Martha Washington S. division, and a startlingly easy 1 1/4 length score over the previously undefeated Pure Clan in the Honeybee S. (G3), she should have little trouble notching her second straight graded victory.

Pure Clan, seemingly the only one capable of knocking off Eight Belles in the 1 1/16-mile feature, has less tactical foot than her rival and figures to be playing catch-up throughout. The Bob Holthus trainee, however, should be somewhat sharper for the Fantasy than she was in the Honeybee, which was her first race since capturing the Golden Rod S. (G2) at Churchill on November 24.

Rounding out the Fantasy field are ALINA (Came Home), recent winner of the Green Oaks at Delta Downs, and FRENCH KISS (Hussonet), who has not raced since finishing sixth in the Golden Rod.

From the rail out, the field with riders is French Kiss, Joe Johnson; Pure Clan, Julien Leparoux; Eight Belles, Ramon Dominguez; and Alina, Luis Quinonez.

All save French Kiss will carry 121 pounds. As the only non-stakes winner in the field, French Kiss will carry 117 pounds.