As the Festival of the South begins, today’s Grade 2 Fantasy at Oaklawn Park is a beauty of a mile and a sixth, just chock full of speed. But, as the Bard once said, therein lies the rub.

A couple of these fast fillies have earned extraordinary performance figures which is problematical two-fold; Mama Kimbo’s (5-2) and Ami’s Dini’s (2-1) pedigree are on the short side and, secondly, they’re fillies—a sex not known to bounce back quickly.

There are a couple of other fillies, with longer pedigrees and top connections, albeit slower on the Equiform performance scale. Of those two; Wait Til Dawn (9-2) and Jemima’s Pearl (6-1), we’re opting for the latter.

She demonstrated excellent energy distribution in her debut, and that was going long. Her spacing is perfect at five weeks, the distance and pattern indicate a forward move forthcoming.

Mr. Baffert, who saddles the longer half of an uncoupled entry with the brilliant Mama Kimbo, has a hellacious record with shippers and the karma with young Joe Talamo has been very good of late. We’re looking for the upset, especially given a foreseeably favorable race shape.

Taking Jemima’s Pearl to win and place at 5-1 or greater.

Running Totals: (1059) 326-207-156 Total Dollar Return: $2,248.60 [win selections only]