National showdown brewing in Apple Blossom; hot pace expected

Trainer Michael McCarthy had just finished off his lunch back at his hotel, having gone through the drive-through a bit earlier Wednesday at Stubby’s BBQ – where they’ve been “cookin’ que since ’52” – when he learned that his filly Ce Ce had landed the outside post in a field of 14 for the Grade 1, $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap on Saturday at Oaklawn Park.

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“If they’d have done the draw before I went to Stubby’s, I wouldn’t have been able to eat,” McCarthy said.

“Talk about social distancing – it would be hard to get farther from the rail than that.”

The Apple Blossom always is one of the top races of the year for older females, but it has taken on added importance this year. Owing to the suspension of racing in California, Kentucky, and New York, it has drawn horses from all corners of the nation in search of a Grade 1 prize and a significant purse. In addition to Ce Ce, the race includes Grade 1 winners Come Dancing, Ollie’s Candy, Serengeti Empress, and Street Band.

“It’s the Breeders’ Cup in April,” said Tom Amoss, who trains Serengeti Empress.

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And thus posts could be significant. With 14 barreling into the first turn about a furlong after the start of the 1 1/16-mile race, trips will be paramount.

“There’s not much we can do,” McCarthy said of Ce Ce, who will have regular rider Victor Espinoza at the controls. “Just have to try and stick with the game plan. This filly is very tactical. Hopefully she can get a clean break and not lose too much position heading into the first turn.

“She’s thriving at the moment. I have to believe that even drawn wide she’ll still give a very, very credible effort.”

Ce Ce and Serengeti Empress figure to be two of the top betting choices in the Apple Blossom. Each is coming off a significant victory on March 14. Ce Ce won the Beholder Mile at Santa Anita, the last Grade 1 race run at that track before the suspension of racing there, while earning a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 100. Serengeti Empress, utilizing the speed that is her hallmark, got a career-best Beyer of 101 when scoring a front-running victory on a sloppy, sealed track in the Grade 2 Azeri, Oaklawn’s prep for the Apple Blossom.

“It’s no secret she’s at her best when she’s on the lead. We’re going,” Amoss said. “It looks like there’s a great deal of speed. That’s a potential problem, from the 11 hole, in a big field, with everybody trying to get position.”

In addition to the Azeri, Serengeti Empress used that speed in her biggest victory, last year’s Kentucky Oaks. Few routers can stay with her early. Her biggest issue in this race figures to be the presence of Come Dancing, a Grade 1 sprint winner who will be going two turns for the first time in what will be her 15th start.

Come Dancing figures to be fresh, too, as this is her first start since November, and she is drawn inside of Serengeti Empress, in post 4. She has won going 1 1/16 miles, and was second to Midnight Bisou in last year’s Ogden Phipps, both of those races around one turn at Belmont Park.

Cookie Dough, winner of the Grade 3 Royal Delta at Gulfstream in February against Apple Blossom entrant Queen Nekia, adds speed to the lineup.

Ollie’s Candy was a distant third behind Ce Ce in the Beholder Mile, her first start since the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. She won the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch last summer at Del Mar. She drew well, landing post 1.

Street Band, winner last year of the Grade 1 Cotillion, was fourth behind Serengeti Empress in the Azeri after making a middle move to chase the loose leader. She won’t have to chase this time.

Point of Honor looks ready for her best. Runner-up last year in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama, she recently tuned up going seven furlongs at Tampa in her first start in 6 1/2 months, and she should have plenty of pace to rally into. Her trainer, George Weaver, is having a sensational year, with a strike rate at 30 percent.

Go Google Yourself won the Grade 3 Bayakoa on Feb. 17 last time out and is 2 for 2 at Oaklawn. She goes from post 12.

Lady Apple, winner of the Grade 3 Fantasy at Oaklawn last year, beat Serengeti Empress, Street Band, and Apple Blossom entrant Saracosa two starts back in the Grade 3 Houston Ladies Classic in January. She must overcome post 13.

Awe Emma, Coldwater, and Horologist are longshots.

The Apple Blossom is race 10 on an 11-race card that begins at 12:35 p.m. Central. It is preceded by a strong field of older sprinters – including Bobby’s Wicked One, Flagstaff, Hidden Scroll, Hog Creek Hustle, Share the Upside, and Whitmore – in the Grade 3 Count Fleet, race 8.