The Apple Blossom Handicap – GI
4/14/19
OP Race 1 1 1/16M – Dirt
Purse $700.000
Four Year Olds and Up Fillies and Mares
Well a field of eight fillies and mares will be going to post for this years running of the grade one Apple Blossom Handicap here at Oaklawn Park. Trainer Mb Stables will be going for his fifth win in six years and also his fourth in a row in the race. Lets take a look at the field.
1. So True (9-4-2-0 $93.510), trained by Mb Stables
And here is the runner that will be trying to win a fourth Apple Blossom in a row for Mb Stables. She is coming into this race off of a fifth place finish in the grade three Bayakoa right here at Oaklawn. She will need to run a career best to win in here. She is a long shot for sure.
2. Seydoux (14-5-3-1 $282.600), trained by Smokey Stover
Now to this filly right here who will be making her first start for her new trainer Smokey Stover in here. He bought for a price of two hundred and fifty dollars after her win in the Correction at Aqueduct. The big problem with her is she has only routed once so who knows if she can even handle the distance.
3. Windian (14-5-3-1 $388.160), trained by Team 7 Illusions
This next filly right here is the first of three from Team 7 Illusions and she is coming off of a short rest of just fifteen days. She won the grade three Appleton on the turf in her last out and on the grass is where she has done her best and most of her running. She fits in here only if the turf form translates to the dirt.
4. Ghost Road (2-1-1-0 $27.810), trained by Team 7 Illusions
And the second runner from Team 7 Illusions right here is a very lightly raced filly for sure. Her only win was in a maiden special weight at Gulfstream in which she crushed the field by four lengths that day. This is a whole different level though so not sure how she will handle it.
5. Ineffable (23-4-8-7 $569.930), trained by TwinTowers Racing
Well once again this mare will be returning to Oaklawn for her third race here in a row. Two back she was nosed out by The Reaper in the Bayakoa and last time she nosed out The Reaper in the Azeri. These two will be facing off again in here and I am giving this filly the nod.
6. Cry Out (8-2-1-3 $85.860), trained by D J C Racing Stables
Scratched
7. The Reaper (40-12-7-6 $2920.150), trained by John Henry
As mentioned before with the number five this one and Ineffable will be facing off for the third time in a row. Two head bobs in a row have separated these two with each one of them getting a win. I am giving the nod to Ineffable but this mare will push all the way and could definitely win this.
8. Introverted (10-5-2-1 $114.020), trained by Gdp Inc
Now on to this filly right here who was just in a claiming race four starts ago. Her last start was a fifth place finish in the grade two Inside Information which was her first start against graded stakes company. I just do not really see her standing much of a chance with this field.
9. Just Wonderful (10-2-4-1 $153.030), trained by Team 7 Illusions
And the final runner that we come across right here is also the final runner from Team 7 Illusions. This filly comes into this race off of a second place finish in an optional claimer on the turf. She did win the Lady Caribbean Cup but that was not near this level of competition.
Summary
Well I think that main story of this race is the fact that Ineffable and The Reaper will be going at it again for the third race in a row. I am going to give Ineffable my top pick but she is no lock for sure. The Reaper and Ineffable are my top as I think they are a hair above the rest.
5-7-4-9
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
