Saturday’s $500,000 Apple Blossom H. (G1) won’t feature the expected
showdown between Round Pond (Awesome Again) and HAPPY TICKET (Anet), but the
latter will still have a couple of dangerous rivals
to overcome at Oaklawn Park. The 1 1/16-mile race is the first of two major
stakes, with the $500,000 Oaklawn H. (G2) to follow a couple of races later.
A winner in 11 of 15 career starts, including last year’s Ballerina S. (G1),
Happy Ticket finished a close second to Round Pond in the Azeri
Breeders’ Cup S. (G3) at Oaklawn but lost the opportunity for a rematch due to a
flap over weights. The five-year-old mare must still handle STAR PARADE (Arg)
(Parade Marshal) and SPUN SUGAR (Awesome Again) in order to claim top honors on
Saturday, and the Andrew Leggio Jr. trainee will go postward as the 119-pound
highweight under Robby Albarado.
Three-time Grade 1 queen Star Parade recorded a two-length score in the Santa
Maria H. (G1) most recently and has finished second in the last two editions of
the Apple Blossom. The Darrell Vienna-trained seven-year-old will bring jockey
Martin Pedroza with her from California. Spun Sugar enjoyed a very successful
sophomore campaign, winning the Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2) and finishing second in
the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and Mother Goose S. (G1), before heading to
the sidelines after a runner-up effort in August’s Alabama S. (G1). The Todd Pletcher
filly gave every indication that she’ll be even better at four when dominating
her seasonal debut at Gulfstream Park.
The six Apple Blossom runners, from the rail with jockeys and weights, are
PLATINUM BALLET (Skip Away), Clifton Berry, 112; Happy Ticket; LA REASON (Labeeb
[GB]), Terry Thompson, 112; HOLLYWOOD STORY (Wild Rush), Luis Quinonez, 116;
Star Parade, 117; and Spun Sugar, Mike Luzzi, 116.
Purim made a name for himself on the grass last year, winning the Arlington
Classic (G3) and finishing second by a nose in the American Derby (G2), but he
concluded his 2005 campaign on the dirt and established himself on the main
track this year with a superb two-length win in the Razorback Breeders’ Cup H.
(G3) last out. Top challengers to the Tom Proctor runner include BUZZARDS BAY
(Marco Bay) and MAGNUM (Arg) (El Compinche).
Buzzards Bay got good at this time 12 months ago, winning the Santa Anita
Derby (G1) and finishing fifth in the Kentucky Derby (G1), but he made only
three more starts on the season. The Ron Ellis charge opened 2006 with a fourth
as the favorite in the Sunshine Millions Classic and returned to the winner’s
circle with a resounding four-length tally in the All American H. (G3) at Golden
Gate Fields last time. Group 1-placed in Argentina, Magnum appears to be finding
his best form at present under the direction of Vienna. The five-year-old merits
serious respect here off a terrific second in the Santa Anita H. (G1).
Buzzards Bay will break from the rail under a 118-pound impost that includes
Jose Valdivia Jr. To their immediate outside comes ANDROMEDA’S HERO (Fusaichi
Pegasus), Calvin Borel, 115; Magnum, Pedroza, 115; GOULDINGS GREEN
(Charismatic), Corey Lanerie, 113; Purim, Albarado, 117; IT’S NO JOKE (Distorted
Humor), Jesus Castanon, 114; MASTER COMMAND (A.P. Indy), Luzzi, 113; and WITH
DISTINCTION (Storm Cat), John Jacinto, 113.