Amy's Challenge under consideration for jump to Grade 1 level

Amy’s Challenge is scheduled to make her next start April 6. Whether it's in Arkansas or Kentucky still isn’t clear.

After watching Amy’s Challenge work an easy half-mile in :48.20 Thursday morning, trainer Mac Robertson said he plans to enter his multiple stakes winner in the $150,000 Carousel Stakes at Oaklawn and the $300,000 Madison Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.

“That seems like the thing to do to me,” Robertson said.

Amy’s Challenge has been one of the stars of the 2019 Oaklawn meeting, setting stakes records for time (1:03.10 for 5 ½ furlongs) and margin of victory (8 ¼ lengths) in the $100,000 Spring Fever March 2 and another stakes record (1:09.32 for 6 furlongs) in winning the $100,000 American Beauty – her 4-year-old debut – by 5 ¾ lengths Jan. 26.

She is unbeaten in six career starts at 6 furlongs or less, including the $125,000 Dixie Belle Stakes in her 3-year-old debut last year at Oaklawn. In her only Keeneland appearance, Amy’s Challenge finished sixth in the $250,000 Raven Run Stakes (G2) Oct. 20. The Carousel is 6 furlongs. The Madison, like the Raven Run, is 7 furlongs.

Entering both races will allow Robertson to assess field size, weather and other factors.

Thursday’s breeze was the second published work for Amy’s Challenge since the Spring Fever. She worked over a fast track after the break to renovate the racing surface, going from the 3-furlong pole to the 7-furlong marker. Clockers caught her first 3 furlongs in :36.20 and galloping out 5 furlongs in 1:01.40.

“I was real pleased,” Robertson said. “I wanted it even like that. Been working wickedly fast.”

Amy’s Challenge has a 6-1-1 record from 10 starts overall and earnings of $359,156. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Artie Schiller is owned by Novogratz Racing Stables Inc. Amy’s Challenge beat males in her first two career starts at Canterbury Park, including the $80,000 Shakopee Juvenile Stakes in September 2017.