Epic Apple Blossom battle expected between Monomoy Girl, Swiss Skydiver

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The first $1 million running of the Apple Blossom Handicap on Saturday at Oaklawn Park has brought together two of the top older horses in training in champions Monomoy Girl and Swiss Skydiver.

“It’s hopefully a historic race,” said Ken McPeek, who trains Swiss Skydiver. “A couple of champions is always good for the game.”

“I think it’s great for racing, there’s no doubt,” said Brad Cox, who trains Monomoy Girl.

The Apple Blossom is a mile and a sixteenth race for fillies and mares that is being showcased on a 12-race program that includes the Grade 2, $1 million Oaklawn Handicap. The infield is scheduled to be open on an afternoon forecast to be in the mid-60s with a less than 10 percent chance of rain.

It should be the perfect setting for an early season clash between two popular runners who are working their way to the Breeders’ Cup. The field for the Apple Blossom also includes Letruska, a threat to wire the field, and stakes winners Another Broad, Chance to Shine, and Getrideofwhatailesu. Monomoy Girl, the 124-pound highweight who will break from post 6 under Florent Geroux, is a two-time champion. The 6-year-old has won seven Grade 1 races – as well as her last six starts. During the current streak, Monomoy Girl captured the Breeders’ Cup Distaff in November over Swiss Skydiver in their first meeting. Both have made one start since, with Monomoy Girl a two-length winner of the Grade 3 Bayakoa, which was run in the slop Feb. 28 after a deluge at Oaklawn.

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“I really don’t think she cared for the track that day,” Cox said. “Florent kind of made the comment, ‘She did it.’ She was just good enough to overcome some things. She didn’t like being way out in the middle of the track. She did it because she’s that good.

“I think she’s moved forward since the Bayakoa. I see her pretty close to peak condition now. She’s on it. I think she showed that her last couple of works. She’s ready to race Saturday.”

So is Swiss Skydiver, who last year at 3 won the Preakness over eventual Horse of the Year Authentic. Her season included an Oaklawn win in the Fantasy. As for the transition she’s made from 3 to 4, McPeek points to her win in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile on March 13 at Santa Anita.

“Being that she won a Grade 1 her first start, I’d say pretty good,” he said.

Swiss Skydiver earned a Beyer of 101, the best last-race number in the Apple Blossom. She is seeking to turn the tables on Monomoy Girl, after running seventh to her in the Distaff.

“The race was a complete toss,” McPeek said. “Our filly came back with a significant injury to her right front leg. It was unfortunate, but you know, that’s racing. That’s our excuse for that day, and hopefully we don’t have one Saturday.”

McPeek is looking for his first Apple Blossom after champion Take Charge Lady was edged by a head following an epic stretch battle in 2003.

“It would make up for the tough beat Take Charge Lady had years ago to Azeri,” he said.

Swiss Skydiver, the second highweight at 122, breaks from post 2 under Robby Albarado.

“We’ll leave things up to Robby,” McPeek said. “He knows how to pace her and he knows where her rhythm is and I think that’s important. He knows her well.”

Swiss Skydiver raced without Lasix last out at Santa Anita, which has new stakes protocols on the diuretic. McPeek has elected to run without Lasix on Saturday.

“I didn’t want to go off and on,” he said. “I left her off. I think the rest of the year we’re going to be running off of it anyway, and she doesn’t need it.”

Swiss Skydiver, an earner of $2 million, races for Peter J. Callahan.

Monomoy Girl, an earner of $4.5 million, races for Spendthrift Farm, Madaket Stables, and My Racehorse Stable. Cox also is looking for his first Apple Blossom.

“She always likes that nice little two-, three-wide stalking position,” he said. “That seems to be her thing. Florent knows her, knows where to put her.”

Letruska went 6 for 6 in Mexico earlier in her career and was that country’s champion 3-year-old filly of 2019. She has won five stakes in the U.S., and enters the Apple Blossom off a runner-up finish to Shedaresthedevil in the local prep, the Grade 2 Azeri.

“She’s ready for the race, the most important she’s had in her career,” said trainer Fausto Gutierrez.

“I like that it’s not a big field, and that it’s a race where there is not a lot of speed. I think the Azeri had more speed than this one. I think this is something that is going to help us a lot.

“Another important point is that this is the third race for her this year and the other ones, it’s the second race after a layoff. I think Letruska is in peak [form] physically. We’re ready for this race. We have absolutely nothing to lose and have a lot to win.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount on Letruska at 118.