There's 'hope' Wicked Whisper will be ready for Oaklawn's Honeybee

The “hope” is Grade 1 winner Wicked Whisper will make her seasonal debut in the Grade 3, $300,000 Honeybee Stakes for 3-year-old fillies March 7, owner Alex Lieblong of Conway, Ark., said Thursday morning.

Wicked Whisper, from the first crop of Liam’s Map, has been with Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen’s Fair Grounds division this winter. Wicked Whisper worked five furlongs in 1:02 Feb. 14, her fourth published breeze in less than month. She hasn’t started since finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita.

“She’s working very well,” Lieblong said. “But any time you have one coming off a layoff, you hold your breath. She’s been working with some good horses. A couple of workmates have been stakes winners. She’s worked with Basin once that I know of. She’s not been hanging around cheap horses.”

The Asmussen-trained Basin was a Grade 1 winner at 2 and is a candidate to make his 3-year-old debut in the March 14 Rebel Stakes (G2). The Rebel is one of Oaklawn’s four Kentucky Derby points races.

Wicked Whisper won her first two career starts, including the Frizette Stakes (G1) on Oct. 6 at Belmont Park, before suffering her first career loss in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Lieblong, who is chairman of the Arkansas Racing Commission, purchased Wicked Whisper for $500,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Nominations to the Honeybee close Feb. 27. The Honeybee is one of three local points preps for the Kentucky Oaks.