Betting With, and Against, Simply Joking in the Fantasy Stakes

A total of 10 sophomore fillies will vie in Saturday’s $750,000 Fantasy S. (G2) at Oaklawn Park. The 1 1/16-mile affair is led by the unbeaten #7 Simply Joking (8-5). Trained by Whit Beckman, the two-time black-type heroine debuted at Fair Grounds and defeated stakes foes in a six-furlong heat, prior to leading at every call in her route debut in the Silverbulletday S. at the same venue. The Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Practical Joke is both talented and versatile, and she shows promising morning drills leading up to this contest, too. She will be forwardly placed in this contest as an obvious win threat under Jaime Torres. 

Simply Joking – With

• $8 trifecta 7 with 5,6 with 2,5,6,10 ($48)

Simply Joking – Against

• $4 trifecta 5,6 with 5,6,7 with 2,5,6,7,10 ($48)

Honeybee S. (G3) vixen #5 Quietside (2-1) has run well in each lifetime performance and comes off arguably her best showing to date when defeating two good ones on the course last time out. Conditioned by John Ortiz, the Malibu Moon homebred has trained swiftly in preparation for her third run off the shelf and will always be in the thick of it on Saturday with Jose Ortiz returning to the saddle. 

I thought that the Honeybee S. (G3) was a very deep race, so fourth-place finisher #6 Necessity (10-1) has a lot of appeal to me at a nice price. By Constitution, the improving sort has moved up since transferring to the dirt in her third lifetime run, and her maiden triumph on the surface two back was impressive, as well. The bay has some tactical speed but will be doing her best work in the lane under the guidance of Ricardo Santana, Jr.  

#2 California Sunset (12-1) is consistent if nothing else and represents good value for the exotics for trainer Brad Cox. The Quality Road homebred has won or placed in each of her five assignments since having blinkers added, and the filly could get a very nice trip from midpack early while saving ground throughout. The Kentucky-bred will have Florent Geroux in the silks. 

Steve Asmussen’s #10 Runnin N Gunnin (20-1) has won three of four coming in, led by a score in the Sunland Park Oaks most recently, and she is too big of a price to omit, in my opinion. This dark bay daughter of Gun Runner will be coming from off the pace with Flavien Prat in the stirrups.