Honeybee, Azeri to show McPeek how his fillies are progressing

It’s all about the girls the next two weekends at Oaklawn for trainer Kenny McPeek, who is scheduled to send out Tabor Hall and Oliviaofthedesert in Saturday’s $300,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies and Envoutante in the $350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) for older fillies and mares March 13.

The three horses were vanned from Florida, their winter base, arriving at 9:30 p.m. EST Wednesday. And McPeek said he could send another filly, a big-name filly, to Oaklawn before the meeting ends May 1 in Eclipse Award winner Swiss Skydiver.

Envoutante closed her 3-year-old campaign with dominant victories in the $100,000 Remington Park Oaks (G3) Sept. 27 at Remington Park and the $200,000 Falls City Stakes (G2) Nov. 26 at Churchill Downs. McPeek said Brian Hernandez Jr. will have the mount in the 1 1/16-mile Azeri, the final major local prep for the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) April 17.

“Her last race was a beast race,” McPeek said Wednesday afternoon. “She and Swiss have been getting ready down here, and I’ve been trying to keep them separated. I made a decision and it looks like Swiss is going to California. It’s a high-level problem. I’m pretty heavy on fillies this year, for some odd, unusual reason.”

McPeek said he’s pointing Swiss Skydiver, the country’s champion 3-year-old filly of 2020, to the $300,000 Beholder Mile (G1) March 13 at Santa Anita, adding that the race could lead to a return trip to Oaklawn. Swiss Skydiver already is a stakes winner in Hot Springs, claiming the $400,000 Fantasy (G3) last May. She later won the $500,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, finished second in the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) Sept. 4 at Churchill Downs and toppled males, including future Horse of the Year Authentic, in the Preakness, the third leg of the revamped Triple Crown (COVID), Oct. 3 at Pimlico.

Swiss Skydiver hasn’t started since finishing seventh behind two-time Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

“Possibly,” McPeek said, when asked if Swiss Skydiver could be seen at Oaklawn. “Yeah, it’s possible. I think the timing is pretty good for both of them to run back there.”

Oliviaofthedesert and Tabor Hall will be looking for Kentucky Oaks points in the 1 1/16-mile Honeybee.

Oliviaofthedesert is the more accomplished of the duo, winning an allowance Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs and the $60,000 Trapeze Stakes Dec. 18 at Remington Park in her final two starts last year. A daughter of Bernardini, Oliviaofthedesert was purchased for $320,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Tabor Hall, in her last start, was a front-running 1 1/2-length maiden winner Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park.

“They’re both two-turn fillies,” McPeek said. “I think it’s ideal timing for both of them to see where they fit in the scheme of the Oaks and the 3-year-old filly division. Olivia won a nice little race out at Remington and Tabor Hall’s shown quality. Nice Candy Ride filly. They’re both doing well and the timing was good.”

The Honeybee will offer 85 points (50-20-10-5) to the top four finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Oaks, the country’s biggest race for 3-year-old fillies. It will be run April 30 at Churchill Downs.

The Honeybee is the final major local prep for the $600,000 Fantasy (G3) April 3.