The Forbidden Apple (Grade 3)- $150.000 Purse
SAR- For Four Year Olds and Upward
One Mile on the Inner Turf
July 16, 2021

The Forbidden Apple had the potential to be a good, well balanced race, and we saw that with the oddsboard leading into it. The favorite, Silent Commander, went off at 6/1, and half the field went off at odds between 6/1 and 9/1. In the end, it would be our pre-race pick, Spiral, getting it done with a fantastic stretch performance. In a very close finish, he got up in time to edge out Roman Rage and Through The World to get trainer Mb Stables his second win in this stake. Jockey J R Velazquez is a first time winner. Congratulations to them! The race was won in a time of 1:32.81, making it the fastest edition of the Forbidden Apple in its history. Let’s have a look!

(¼ MIle- :23.30)- From the outside, Sundays Sauce goes flying out of the starting gate for D J C Racing Stables, and quickly clears the field by nearly two lengths while being able to get to the rail for the clubhouse turn. He is ahead of a group of three, which has another of the outside starts, Scarlet Devil of Nakamura Stables in the third lane, running to the outside of La Canada Racehorses- trained Through The World, and Gdp Inc’s Roman Rage, who is on the rail. The favorite, Silent Commander is in the middle of the next group of three for Serenity Stables, and as Multiple Shadows, from Our Athletes, on his outside. Running to the inside here is the eventual winner, Spiral, for Mb Stables. Next it’s Jolly Rook (Angelos Stable), who handles the clubhouse turn four wide, while having Ice Wall (RNP Stables) and Mojave Rattler (John Henry) nearby. Trailing early are Cherokee Surprise (TwinTowersRacing), and Cp Sad Pain (Barcelona Farms).

(½ Mile- :46.49)- Into the backstretch, Sundays Sauce is still the leader but his lead shrinks over Scarlet Devil, who is now only a length behind while seemingly poised to make a run on the outside. Roman Rage closely follows the pace setter, and Through The World is keeping up with him, too. To their outside, almost a full length behind them, we see Silent Commander and Multiple Shadows inch forward, but the horse that had been running with them, Spiral, is holding his line, and not concerned by what those two are doing. Towards the back Jolly Rook, Ice Wall, and Mojave Rattler are three wide while Cherokee Surprise and Cp Sad Pain still trail.

(Top of stretch, 1.8F To Go)- There seemed to be a lot of side to side movement within the field approaching the end of the backstretch and at the top of the turn as horses looked for that perfect lane to make a run with. The horse that did not have to worry about that was Sundays Sauce, as he holds his lead for the turn, but at the top of the stretch, he’s in a three wide battle with Scarlet Devil, who gradually gained on him, and Roman Rage, who seemed to pounce forward on exit of the turn. Spiral was able to hold his inside lane while all the was going on, allowing him to stay away from traffic. A lane potentially opened up for him to take advantage of to the outside of Sundays Sauce, too. Through The World and Silent Commander were right alongside him and each of them also appeared to have a good position for a strong stretch run. Meanwhile, Jolly Rook continued his outside trip, and now moved to the outside of the fading Multiple Shadows. Mojave Rattler had a good line, about the same distance back, to the inside. Ice Wall was lacking response, and both Cherokee Surprise and Cp Sad Pain had a lot of work to do now.

(Finish- 1:32.81)- Early in the stretch, Roman Rage pulls out in front with his sights set on winning his 50th career start. He’s put away both Sundays Sauce and Scarlet Devil, but maybe a little too quickly, because the lane for Spiral to come on through would be even wider now. Roman Rage seemed to drift in the latter moments too as the hoofsteps of Spiral got even louder. Approaching the wire, Spiral would be able to pull up to the inside, and would get a neck in front at the wire to get this victory in the photo. Roman Rage does take second over Through The World, who also made a solid late bid. It was close for fourth, but in the middle of the track, Jolly Rook would earn the final piece of the purse, over Silent Commander, Mojave Rattler, and Scarlet Devil who were close by. Rounding out the order, it’s Cherokee Surprise, Cp Sad Pain, Ice Wall, Sundays Sauce (who dropped like a rock in the stretch), and Multiple Shadows.

About The Winner- Spiral, trained by Mb Stables, and ridden to victory by J R Velazquez, is a five year old gelding by Dumbell Press and is out of the late Michael Blackson. He was bred in Florida a third quarter two year old by Team 7 Illusions, and acquired by Mb Stables unraced in a September 2018 private sale for $12.000. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his seventh in 17 starts, his fifth stake win, and third graded win. His career earnings are now $1,268.330.

Track: Firm
Time: :23¹  :46²  1:09²  1:32⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 2 – 1 Paid 106.30
$1 Trifecta: 2 – 1 – 3 Paid 330.20

Scratched: Hollywood Command

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES