Fan favorite Black Apple looks to extend win streak

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Black Apple has set himself apart in the Arkansas-bred ranks at Oaklawn Park for not only his record, but also his coat color, and both will be on display in the sixth race Sunday.

The 1 1/16-mile allowance is designed to produce starters for the $200,000 Arkansas Breeders’ Championship here May 4. It drew a strong cast of eight, including past Arkansas-bred of the year Man in the Can and the formidable Lochmoor and Dinner At Crumpies.

Black Apple will be looking to win his fourth straight race at the meet Sunday.

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“We love this horse for not just his talent, but his color because he’s so white compared to any other gray here,” said John Ortiz, who trains Black Apple for Shortleaf Stable. “And he’s loved by everybody. It’s always special when the racetrack fans love your horse as much as you do – not just for the talent, but for who he is.”

Black Apple began his streak with a December win against first-level allowance runners bred in Arkansas and continued with a pair of $50,000 starter-allowance scores. One came in February over open company, and the other in March in a race restricted to horses bred in Arkansas.

“This horse, he’s matured so much from last year,” Ortiz said. “With age and maturity, he has shown us a new competitive edge and that he’s a horse that wants to be a leader. You can’t ask for anything more than for a horse that wants to be a leader.”

Black Apple – named for an apple produced in Arkansas – has been a determined winner in his races. In his latest, he was up for a nose win over Dinner At Crumpies going a mile. Ricardo Santana Jr. was aboard, just as he has been for all of the horse’s races this season. Black Apple will break from post 6.

“He’s been up for the challenge every single time this meet – we’re hoping to repeat,” Ortiz said. “He’s a horse, he’ll break sharp but he kind of settles into the race and he comes running at the end. I think there’s going to be enough speed in this race to where we can let the race set up and let Ricardo do what Ricardo does best.”

The bit of added ground Black Apple picks up on the move to 1 1/16 miles suits the horse well, Ortiz said. The last time Black Apple raced at the distance he earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 85.

Lochmoor enters off a win over $50,000 starter rivals on March 22. He was facing fellow Arkansas-breds and rallied for a 2 1/2-length win for trainer Bruce Riecken. The win came at 1 1/16 miles, and the Beyer of 81 that Lochmoor earned is the best last-race number in the field. Cristian Torres has the mount from post 3 for owner William Kennedy Jr.

◗ Stakes winner Code Five, as of Friday, was cross-entered in both the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap that was to have been run Saturday and a first-level allowance that goes as the eighth race Sunday.

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