4/4/06
Last updated: 4/3/06 8:21 PM
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Round Pond, undefeated so far this season, is questionable for
the Apple Blossom
(Uli Seit/Horsephotos.com) |
Grade 1 winner ROUND POND (Awesome Again) will probably not run in Saturday’s
$500,000 Apple Blossom H. (G1) at Oaklawn Park, according to trainer John Servis,
because of his dissatisfaction with the assigned weights.
Round Pond and HAPPY TICKET (Anet), who staged a thrilling duel in the recent
Azeri Breeders’ Cup S. (G3) before Round Pond won in a photo-finish, were rated
as co-highweights at 119 pounds. California invader Star Parade (Arg) (Parade
Marshal), coming off her second victory in the Santa Maria H. (G1), will carry
117 pounds.
“I’m not upset about Round Pond getting equal weight with Happy Ticket,”
Servis said, “but I’m really upset about having to give two pounds to Star
Parade, who is a multiple Grade 1 winner, with faster Beyers, and we’re spotting
her weight? I’m not happy about it.”
Servis said that, had he been weighting the Apple Blossom, he would have
assigned Star Parade 121, Happy Ticket 120 and Round Pond 119.
“I’d say Round Pond’s chances of making the race are 90-10 against,” Servis
said. “In fact, chances are we’ll ship everything in the barn out Friday.
“The Apple Blossom has been our main goal with Round Pond for months, but as
I said, this is a matter of principle,” Servis added.
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“I was really looking forward to the rematch with Round Pond,” Happy Ticket’s
trainer, Andrew Leggio Jr. said. “I’ll be really disappointed if it doesn’t come
off. Like everyone else, I want to see who’s the best mare. These are two great
mares. As for me, I’m pleased with the weights. I think they are fair. The two
mares are equal in ability.”
Other distaffers expected for the 1 1/16-mile contest are last year’s Black
Eyed Susan S. (G2) winner SPUN SUGAR (Awesome Again) and Azeri third-place
finisher PLATINUM BALLET (Skip Away).
