Phantom Fury, who has won his past two by a total of nearly 19 lengths, makes his stakes debut in Saturday's $50,000 W.E.B.N. Stakes at Turfway Park.
Reminiscent of champion Hansen's showy performances at Turfway last fall, the gray Phantom Fury has run his rivals off their feet. The Michael Lauer pupil dominated a maiden before romping in an entry-level optional claimer at this same one-mile distance over the Polytrack.
Phantom Fury steps up to face a duo from the barn of Hansen's trainer, Mike Maker. Mr. Prankster was a 3 1/2-length winner of the January 7 Turfway Prevue, the first leg of the track's sophomore series, over his stablemate Magical Season.
But Mr. Prankster must answer the two-turn question in this spot. While never worse than second in sprints, he faded badly in his only prior route attempt in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club last November and wound up last.
Other contenders include Keeneland maiden winner Tiz Tee Time, who has fired a couple of bullet works recently for Phil Sims; Antique Wedding, who comes off a second-level allowance victory at Mountaineer; and Turfway Prevue third Frankie Is Rock.