Harvey's Lil Goil among Mott's fillies possible for Oaklawn's Fantasy
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott has a trio of talented fillies in Harvey's Lil Goil, Lake Avenue and Antoinette nominated for the Grade 3, $400,000 Fantasy Stakes slated for May 1 at Oaklawn Park.
"All three might make their way to Oaklawn," Mott said, with the 1 1/16-miles test offering 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to its top-four finishers.
The trainer will be looking for his first win in the Kentucky Oaks, which this year will be held on September 4 -- the first Friday in September -- due to the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Estate of Harvey A. Clarke and Paul Braverman's Harvey's Lil Goil romped to a six-length maiden win at second asking in December at the Aqueduct and followed with a 7 ½-length score over next-out Busher Invitational champ Water White in the nine-furlong Busanda in February at Aqueduct.
"She might not get in the Fantasy. They have a big field and she might not have enough earnings," said Mott.
If Harvey's Lil Goil doesn't make the Fantasy, she could still run May 1 in an overnight stake Oaklawn Park added for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles.
Harvey's Lil Goil is out of the Tapit broodmare Gloria S, who is a half-sister to 2012 Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another and the Mott-trained dual graded-stakes winner Golden Award.
Mott said the well-bred filly relishes a distance of ground, which should suit her well as she gears up for Grade 1 races like the Kentucky Oaks and the 10-furlong Alabama at Saratoga Race Course.
"She's a nice filly and distance isn't going to hurt her," said Mott. "I really didn't want to shorten her up to the mile and a sixteenth in the Fantasy if she gets in there, but if we don't run there we might not be running for a while."
Harvey's Lil Goil is currently 21st on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with 10 points.
Godolphin homebred Lake Avenue, a Tapit chestnut, won the Grade 2 Demoiselle at 1 1/8-mile in December at Aqueduct while garnering an 82 Beyer Speed Figure. After a disappointing fourth in the Busher to launch her 3-year-old campaign, Lake Avenue was an even third last out in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks won gate-to-wire by Swiss Skydiver.
"She's doing well. She ran much better here in the Oaks than her previous race in New York," said Mott.
Lake Avenue is 11th on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with 35 points.
Godolphin homebred Antoinette, a bay daughter of Hard Spun, graduated at second asking on the Belmont turf in October and followed up with a victory in the off-the-turf Tepin in December at Aqueduct.
Last out, in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks, Antoinette moved to 12th on the Oaks leaderboard by garnering 20 points with a troubled third-place run.
Mott said the Fair Grounds effort was deceptively good.
"It was a good race. She had to wait for running room but she ran a decent third. She's doing well," said Mott.
Pam and Martin Wygod's Modernist, who is fourth on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 70 points, graduated in January at the Aqueduct ahead of winning the Grade 2 Risen Star in February at Fair Grounds. Last out, Modernist was third in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby.
Modernist is not nominated to the Grade 1 $750,000 Arkansas Derby set for May 2 at Oaklawn, as Mott said he will wait for other options for the dark bay son of Uncle Mo."We won't be cranking him up for that race," said Mott. "We'll wait for something in New York with him."