Amy's Challenge romps to Spring Fever win at Oaklawn Park

Novogratz Racing Stables’ Amy’s Challenge easily secured her third Oaklawn stakes victory with a stakes-record performance in Saturday’s $100,000 Spring Fever Stakes before a crowd of 17,000.

Ridden by Alex Canchari, Amy’s Challenge broke sharp, but showed a new dimension by tracking closely in second place behind Shanghai Tariff through an opening quarter mile in :22 1/5. However, the heavy favorite didn’t stay second for long and used her powerful kick to distance herself from the field through the stretch. Amy’s Challenge drew clear to win by 8 ¼ lengths over Shanghai Tariff in 1:03.01 for 5 ½ furlongs over a fast track. The previous stakes record was 1:03.53.

“I know you don't think she's rating, but she’s rating a little bit there (down the backstretch),” trainer Mac Robertson said. “She’s just sitting there. I was happy with that. She was second for a while and then went by and won. I’m glad she did that. It helped her heart, helped her confidence.

“The reason for running back here was to have her win again. Obviously, winning’s good for horses like her. She runs so hard. It was pretty discouraging to watch her lose last year. You know you’ve got the best horse and you get beat, it’s like losing at the end of the game the way New Orleans (Saints) did. It kind of sucks.”

Alex’s Bourbon closed from last to finish third by a neck over Treble. Swing and Sway, Proper Discretion and Vertical Oak completed the order of finish. Sister Nation was scratched.

Amy’s Challenge, who won the 2018 Dixie Belle Stakes and began the year by winning the American Beauty Stakes, won for the sixth time in 10 starts and has now earned $359,156. The 4-year-old Artie Schiller filly returned $3.80, $2.80 and $2.20 as the 4-5 favorite.

Live racing resumes Sunday with a 1:30 p.m. CT first post.