Midnight Bisou, Elate face off in Apple Blossom

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Apple Blossom Handicap has long been one of the most important races on the calendar for fillies and mares, and the Grade 1, $750,000 renewal on Sunday at Oaklawn Park looks like another classic.

Midnight Bisou and Elate – ranked second and third in their division by Daily Racing Form national handicapper Mike Watchmaker who has Monomoy Girl in the top spot – are part of the six-horse field. The 1 1/16-mile race also has drawn Wonder Gadot, a $1.5 million earner and leading contender for Canadian Horse of the Year at next week’s Sovereign Awards, as well as graded stakes winners Chocolate Martini and Escape Clause.

“The Apple Blossom is very significant for fillies and mares,” said Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who starts Midnight Bisou. “It’s had great winners in the past and it will have a great winner again this year. There’s some very accomplished mares in a worthy Grade 1. It should be a very exciting race.”

The Apple Blossom, which will share a card with the $150,000 Fifth Season, closes the $3.6 million Racing Festival of the South. The race was moved to Sunday this year to serve as a reminder that the Oaklawn season is not ending with the Arkansas Derby as has been tradition but instead extends to May 4.

Apple Blossom (Race 8)

KEY CONTENDERS

Midnight Bisou, by Midnight Lute

Last 3 Beyers: 99-90-94

◗ She enters the Apple Blossom just $45,000 shy of $2 million in earnings and is the 122-pound highweight after taking the local prep, the Grade 2, $350,000 Azeri on March 16, and the Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic on Jan. 27 at Sam Houston.

“We’re obviously excited about both of her races so far this year,” said Asmussen, who trains the Grade 1 winner for Bloom Racing, Madaket Stables, and Allen Racing.

◗ Midnight Bisou sat off a slow pace in the Azeri, had to wait for racing room in the stretch, then burst through a seam for a length win over the comebacking Elate and female sprint champion Shamrock Rose.

“How she finished up was visually impressive, and we’re just hoping for more of the same,” Asmussen said.

◗ Mike Smith again has the mount on Midnight Bisou, who will break from post 6.

“Mike knows her extremely well and has the utmost confidence in her,” Asmussen said. “I think she’s showing some versatility.

“It will be very interesting to see what the pace scenario is going to be.”

◗ Asmussen won the Apple Blossom in 2015 with champion Untapable.

Elate, by Medaglia d’Oro

Last 3 Beyers: 97-105-95

◗ The multiple Grade 1 winner, who has earnings of $1.4 million, is the second highweight at 120 pounds. She was making her first start since August in the Azeri and raced close to the pace before putting in a strong run through the stretch.

“After a long layup, it was good to see that she was still in the game,” said Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, who starts Elate for Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider.

◗ Elate has worked back twice since the Azeri, among her moves a half-mile in 48.80 seconds on March 31 at Payson Park in Florida.

“I think she woke up a little bit, got something out of the race,” Mott said. “We’d like to see a little improvement – and like to see a win.”

◗ Jose Ortiz has the mount from the rail Sunday.

◗ Mott has won four runnings of the Apple Blossom, his latest with champion Close Hatches in 2014.

Escape Clause, by Going Commando

Last 3 Beyers: 95-88-91

◗ She set a track record in the $100,000 Harry Henson at Sunland Park in her last start March 24, when she covered the two-turn mile in 1:34. Escape Clause won in hand by 7 1/4 lengths.

“I think she’ll like the mile and a sixteenth,” trainer Don Schnell said of the Apple Blossom. “As good as she is right now, it’s worth a try.”

◗ Escape Clause is 2 for 3 this year, with her other win coming in the Grade 3 La Canada on Jan. 12 at Santa Anita.

◗ Tyler Baze, who was aboard for the Harry Henson and La Canada, has the mount from post 3.