4/16/22

  1   OP      The Apple Blossom Hcp (GI)   

$1,000.000      4yo&Up F&M      1 1/16m  Dirt      Hcp Weights

You know it’s spring when you see The Apple Blossom Hcp (GI) on the menu, and we catch a nice field of nine for the ’22 running of this classic.  I think you can bet the farm on Wbf No Regrets today… I know she’s seven years old and what-ever, she’s just a hard knocking race mare and off of that front running win over this track last out, I think she spells W I N again today.  I’ll put Creepy Crawlies on the bottom of my ticket as this filly has back to back wins and has been right in the middle of just about every race she’s lined up for. 

It’s a nice field and you never know what can happen on the hair-pin turns here at OP. 

Here’s The Field –

A single win last season and hasn’t hit the board this year, but she’s been close in a few stakes, so you have to give her a puncher’s chance.  Second in the RP Oaks (GIII) and something on the order of that effort should put her in the mix.  She was last of eight  in her most recent trip to the gate, and obviously, that’s not going to get the job done. 

She won the Comely (GIII) at AQU to close out a very successful 21 season, but she has missed the board in both 22 starts, although both were against graded stakes foes.  Doesn’t get any easier here, so she’s going to need to find some of that old magic… if she does, she could be tough. 

Got the season kicked off in style taking the Ladies Hcp at AQU, then was a close up fourth at GP in the Royal Delta (GIII) so she’s in good form and should be considered in this one as well.  I think she may come with some odds and should be used on the exacta and tri tickets. 

She hasn’t been on the board since winning the La Troienne (GI) at CD back in April of last year.  Her only 22 start was a sixth in the HOU Ladies Classic (GIII) where she went off at nearly 70/1 odds.  Obviously, her best would make her a force, but does she still have her best?

Five wins from thirteen starts last season, while banking some serious cash, and got back to the winning ways last out, taking the Hillsboro (GII) at TAM.  She’s done the majority of her damage on the sod, so moving back to the main track is the only question mark for me. 

Tough running filly comes into today on back to back wins taking down Alw foes at TAM and then won the Henson Hcp at SUN last out.  Don’t be fooled, she didn’t bank nearly $1,000.000 by running at mid-level tracks… she’s got class and ability. 

She won three in a row prior to that third place finish at SA last out and she was closing ground late in that Alw race.  This is obviously a step up, but the barn is hot and her speed could be the magic ingredient to get the job done in this one. 

A very classy race mare that has put some serious cash in the bank via winning big races.  You see that Spinster (GI) win at KEE, a third on BC day and she got the job done over this track last out taking the Azeri BC (GII) – she’s real good. 

She’s been tough in a number of recent races, but her graded efforts have left a bit to be desired.  A ninth in the Spinster (GI) and a last of seven in the La Canada (GIII) tells me she has to take a big step forward if she wants to earn a check in this one. 

COZMAN    8 / 6           Willie’s Green Card    7 / 6 / 8    

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES