On Fire Baby to train until the Kentucky Oaks
After winning the Grade 3 Honeybee Stakes at Oaklawn Park for trainer Gary Hartlage and owner Anita Cauley, the 3-year-old filly, On Fire Baby, is scheduled to run no more and just to train before leading up to the all important race in the 3-year-old filly
division the Grade 1, $1 million Kentucky Oaks.
The Kentucky bred daughter of Smoke Glacken, out of mare Ornate by Gilded Time, On Fire Baby was originally scheduled to run in either the Grade 2 Fantasy Stakes, which is scheduled to go underway on 11 April, 2012, or the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby
on 14 April, but now she will rest and train because her connections want a fresher horse come the Kentucky Oaks on 4 May, 2012.
“This was completely Anita’s decision,” said Hartlage. “She wants a fresh horse for the Kentucky Oaks and that’s what she’s going to get. I know I can get her ready. I already know she can get the distance. She’s fine. Everything is okay. We have just decided
to train up to the Oaks.”
These races were on the cards, after her impressive win in the Grade 3, $125,000 Honeybee Stakes, which was a must win situation for On Fire Baby because in her seasonal debut, in the Smarty Jones Stakes over a distance of a mile at Oaklawn Park, On Fire
Baby finished third to winner Junebugred.
As a juvenile, On Fire Baby won two back to back grade two races, and in her third career start she won the Grade 2 Pocahontas Stakes at about a mile at Churchill Downs, and in her next start she landed the Grade 2 Golden Rod Stakes at about 1 1/16 miles
also at Churchill Downs.
These two wins tell a lot about the filly, and the most prominent thing is that she is undefeated over at Churchill Downs’ dirt track in 2 starts, which will surely help her in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, because that is where the race is scheduled to be
run over.
After those two wins as a juvenile, On Fire Baby became the instant early favourite for the Kentucky Oaks, but only time will tell that will she able to down the most important race of her 3-year-old career or some other filly will overhaul her to stand
proud in the Churchill Downs’ winner’s circle.
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