Fillies bloom in the Apple Blossom Handicap
By: Michael Amo, ThoroFan Handicapper
If you have ever gone racing at Oaklawn Park or even have seen a running of the Apple Blossom Handicap, you might tell a different story.
You might have seen Letrusko win it twice (2021-22) and come up short one time. Or maybe you saw Azeri win it 3 times (2002-03-04). Or watched the great Zenyatta win it twice (2008-10) while in her last attempt she offered the crowd a curtsy.
If you had, you remembered the Apple Blossom Handicap as a great grade one distaff for fillies and mares four-years-old and up. Enjoy.
This year, despite the small field, we are likely to see a race to remember.
Secret Oath, winner of the 2022 Kentucky Oaks and second in the Coaching Club American Oaks Stakes against the boys that same year will head the field as the Morning Line favorite.
Clairiere returns to make amends after a traffic problem caused
her second in the Azeri Stakes this year. Two other females will join the fray
as spoilers looking to upset. Let’s look at the field.
1. Secret Oak (Arrogate) brings her record of a first win in the last six races into this race. Her powerful close overwhelmed the field in the Azeri Stakes about a month ago. She turned in a bullet workout over the Oaklawn track for this race. The pace should be quick, allowing her to relax and set up for the close.
2. Hot and Sultry (Speightster) returns to try Secret Oath after a 4th place against her in the Azeri Stakes. She had the lead in the stretch but finished a tight 4th. This time she gets a 6-pound advantage from Secret Oath and may be closer at the wire. Norm Casse who shows a 36%-win percentage at Oaklawn trains her. It could be a three-horse photo taking time to sort out.
3. I Feel the Need (Keen Ice) seems like the local horse filling the field for trifecta wagerers. Tries grades stakes for the second time losing by 5 lengths in that year’s Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn. Next race.
4. Clairiere (Curlin) is the 5-year-old matriarch of the field accumulating over $2.1 million in winnings. Was favorite over Secret Oath in the Azeri last out. Ran into traffic in the lane that slowed her forward progress coming up short to Secret Oath. Joel Rossario takes the reins again for the “payback.”
On paper some may call this a match race between Secret Oath and Clairiere. At the wire it may look that way. Hot and Sultry may spoil that with a cold exacta play. Racing with a 6-pound advantage over Secret Oath and 5-pound advantage over Clairiere in their last race may make a slight difference in the race but a big difference at the wire. Expect Hot and Sultry to lead most of the way with Secret Oath and Clairiere barreling down on her in the stretch. Will either catch her? Yes, but in a photo.
Here is how they will finish:
4. Clairiere (6-5)
2. Hot and Sultry (5-1)
1. Secret Oath (4-5)
3. I Feel the Need (20-1)
Handigamble:
Thoroughbred racing faces tough times ahead with heavy competition from sports and casino gaming. The good old days of going racing to make money are slowly going away.
Wagering on this race proves the point. Burning the midnight oil on the Apple Blossom 2023 will return pocket-change in profits. Is it worth risking our bankroll? I don’t think so unless you follow Jean Chodkowski’s advice when confronted with super-calk to look for horizontal bets like Pick 4s or 5s.
However, to see what appears to be a tremendous horse race where the slightest mistake by a jockey or misstep by a horse makes the difference in the outcome, but not the joy of watching a great race. That’s the difference between a fan and a non-fan of racing.
Fans enjoy a race for the love of the sport. That may be the future of Thoroughbred racing. Embrace the Apple Blossom as great competition among horses, trainers, and jockeys. Enjoy the race.
If you must play, try the horizontal bet we suggest this week’s Newsletter.
Good Luck but keep the day job!
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