Apple Blossom Handicap Champion Showdown
Two champions will clash in what could be either a
blossoming rivalry or the best matchup of the year. The Grade 1 Apple Blossom
at Oaklawn Park attracted six older fillies and mares, including Monomoy Girl
and Swiss Skydiver, plus Mexican champion Letruska.
Kudos to Monomoy Girl and Swiss Skydiver's connections in
not playing the ducking game and bringing their two titans together in,
hopefully, one of multiple meetings.
Once upon a time, this was commonplace, yet over the decades, trainers
and owners are timid and are too busy looking at the bottom line instead of
remembering the basics of horse racing. “I bet my horse can beat yours.”
Ok, speech over. Let’s get to it.
When was the last time MONOMOY GIRL lost a race? That
was in 2018 when she was taken down on the DQ for drifting in on Midnight Bisou,
who earned Champion Older mare honors the following year. Before that, we have
to go back to Monomoy Girl’s 2-year-old season, when she finished second, bested
a neck in the Golden Rod (G2). The small chink in Monomoy Girl’s armor is that
she hasn’t raced since February.
SWISS SKYDIVER lost to Monomoy Girl in last year’s
Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1). Toss that race. Swiss Skydiver stumbled badly at
the start and lost all chance. Before that race, she beat Kentucky Derby winner
Authentic in the Preakness. The Ken McPeek trainee tuned up for the Apple
Blossom with an easy victory in the Beholder Mile (G1). All systems go.
LETRUSKA won two legs of the Mexican Triple Crown for
fillies, missing the first leg since it was for Mexican-breds. She carried her
form to the U.S. and won the Shuvee (G3) and the Houston Ladies Classic (G3). More
recently, she missed the win in the Azeri Stakes (G2), beaten a head by
Shedaresthedevil. Should either of the
top mares stub a hoof, Letruska could be right there.
GETRIDOFWHATAILESU finished third, bested two lengths
by Letruska in the Azeri Stakes. She’s the local horse, having finished in the
money in all five starts at Oaklawn. The Brad Cox trainee is a deep closer, so
if the pace is fast, look to her late to pick up the pieces.
CHANCE TO SHINE has finished behind Monomoy Girl and Getridofwhatailesu. She’s an Optional Claiming/overnight stakes
type. Nothing wrong with that, and she’s been in the money 12 of 18 starts. She
just isn’t in the class of the others.
So what happened to ANOTHER BROAD in the Bayakoa
Stakes (G3) in February? She was off slow, trailed the entire way, some 18
lengths back, and jogged across the finish line, 31+ lengths behind Monomoy
Girl. The 6-year-old mare has lost a step. She finishes third now and then and
even placed in the Turnback the Alarm Handicap (G3) in 2019 but hasn’t won a
race in two years. Another Broad has earned $408,543 in her 24-race career. She
has the class and bloodlines to be a good broodmare.
Analysis
So, are you Team Monomoy Girl or Team Swiss Skydiver? Or do
you want them to dead heat for the win?
Yeah, me too.
I see Letruska setting the pace, with the two champs
hovering. This is very much a jocks race between Geroux and Albarado. Monomoy
Girl benefits from the outside post, while Albarado will have to get Swiss
Skydiver in the clear. Geroux could easily block or pin Albarado in until late.
Either way, we hope to see a thrilling head n’ head battle down the stretch.
#6 MONOMOY GIRL (1-1)
#2 SWISS SKYDIVER (2-1)
#3 LETRUSKA (4-1)
