4/13/2024

   2   OP The Apple Blossom Hcp (GI)     

$1,250.000     4yo&Up F&M     1 1/16m Dirt   Hcp Weights

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Don’t get much bigger than this, unless it’s November…  The Apple Blossom Hcp (GI) and its huge purse shows a list of past winners that is a who’s-who of racing folklore… so who wants to join that vaulted list?

Let’s get the ugly out of the way, right off of the bat… whomever gave the imposts in this race has inverted backbone disease…  making TTR’s Starting Over give 6/7 pounds to this field is just beyond a shaft-job, and she’s scratched.  **UPDATE** Exactly has also been scratched.  

So Always A Virgin looks to make it back-to-back GI wins after taking the Beholder (GI) at SA last out, as the 1.60 fav.  Another like that will probably land her in the winner’s circle.

Rainy Bronze Party won seven races and $150.600 last season, but she just keeps getting better coming from LRL/FP then was third in the Santa Monica (GII) at SA and was the runner-up in the Hurricane Bertie (GIII) at GP, last out.  You have to love a horse that just keeps getting better while moving up through the ranks. 

Here’s the Field –  

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1		Villeneuve	Mo Mentum Farm	Ferrer J C	117	7/1
2		Oceanus	Wood Duck Stables	Saez L	116	6/1
3		Chica Lugo	Panionios Racing	Conner T	117	8/1
4		Midnight Star	Smokey Stover	Birzer A E	116	10/1
5		Surrey	Smokey Stover	Eramia R E	116	10/1
6		Horing Gal	Night Rider Stables	Carmouche K	116	7/1
7		Rainy Bronze Party	Ace Racing Stable	Garcia Mar	116	5/1
SCR		Starting Over
9		Always A Virgin	Tinkey	Gaffalione T	121	3/1
10		El Salvador	Iolaus Racing	Gallardo A A	117	8/1
11		Starving Artist	Wood Duck Stables	Cedillo A	116	8/1
12		Texas Holdem	D J C Racing Stables	Lezcano J	116	7/1
13		Bella Chica	Mb Stables	Franco M	117	6/1
SCR		Exactly

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 Willie’s Green Card   9 / 7

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