Saturday marks the start of the Racing Festival of the South at Oaklawn Park,
and the Hot Springs, Arkansas, venue will play host to the $500,000
Apple Blossom H. (G1) and $500,000
Oaklawn
H. (G2). The Festival will culminate on closing day, April 11, with the
Arkansas Derby (G2).
The 1 1/16-mile Apple Blossom was supposed to mark the return to stakes
action for champion Proud Spell (Proud Citizen), but the Larry Jones trainee
will miss the race after developing some swelling in her left hind ankle. She’s
been sent to Kentucky to recuperate, leaving the way clear for ACOMA (Empire
Maker) to remain in the winner’s circle. The David Carroll charge made her
seasonal bow in the Azeri S. (G3), posting an easy five-length victory in the
local prep for the Apple Blossom. Acoma rounded out 2008 with a pair of turf
wins in the Mrs. Revere S. (G2) and Valley View S. (G3), and will keep jockey
Julien Leparoux aboard while going for her fourth straight.
Looking to upset the apple cart on Saturday is Louisiana-bred SUPERIOR STORM (Stormy
Atlantic). The multiple stakes-winning lass is also seeking her fourth
consecutive victory, having taken the Louisiana Premier Night Distaff S. and an
allowance/optional claiming event in her two starts this season. That allowance
marked the 2009 bow of Proud Spell, but the bay four-year-old could not get by
Superior Storm on that day. Trained by Ronald Jackson, Superior Storm will have
Luis Quinonez back in the saddle for the Apple Blossom.
Also in with a chance is SEVENTH STREET (Street Cry [Ire]), runner-up when
making her stakes bow in the Barbara Fritchie H. (G2) on February 14. The Kiaran
McLaughlin-trained chestnut entered that seven-furlong test off a pair of
allowance/optional claiming wins that earned her 103 and 106 BRIS Speed ratings.
Rajiv Maragh retains the mount on the four-year-old filly, who has gone off
favored each time she’s faced the starter.
Rounding out the field are FRENCH KISS (Hussonet) and COLOR ME UP (Aptitude),
the respective fourth- and seventh-place finishers in the Azeri.
Two races later on the card, HONEST MAN (Unbridled’s Song) will face six
rivals in the Oaklawn H. going nine furlongs. The Jones charge was an easy
winner of the Mineshaft H. (G3) two back at Fair Grounds, but tired to eighth
over a sloppy, sealed track in the New Orleans H. (G2) last out. Gabriel Saez
has the return call.
SECRET GETAWAY (Skip Away) and IT’S A BIRD (Birdonthewire) are also exiting
runs in the New Orleans, with the former just missing by a length in that test
after leading during the early stages. He’ll have Clifton Berry aboard. It’s a
Bird was third in the New Orleans following his 5 1/4-length score in the
Sunshine Millions Classic. The six-year-old will retain the services of Leparoux
on Saturday.
Other contenders include CATMANTOO (Vision and Verse), who was third by a
length in the Razorback H. (G3) most recently, and Essex H. victor PROM SHOES
(Include).