Nitrogen has rail in Apple Blossom's field of nine
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HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Champion Nitrogen will break from the rail in a field of nine fillies and mares for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap next Saturday at Oaklawn Park.
The field for the 1 1/16-mile race was drawn Saturday. This year, the Apple Blossom is a ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
Nitrogen was second in last year’s BC Distaff as part of an Eclipse Award-winning campaign in which she also captured the Grade 1 Alabama. She has raced twice this season, and won the Grade 3 Bayakoa and finished third in the Grade 2 Azeri, both at Oaklawn. Jose Ortiz has the mount as the 122-pound highweight for trainer Mark Casse.
Majestic Oops, who won the Azeri, also returns in the Apple Blossom. She will start from post 2 under Francisco Arrieta. She is weighted at 121 pounds for trainer Dan Ward.
The field also includes Claret Beret, winner of the Grade 3 Royal Delta last out at Gulfstream Park. She is weighted at 120 pounds. Micah Husbands has the mount for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.
The complete field from the rail with riders and morning line odds: Nitrogen, Ortiz, 9-5; Majestic Oops, Arrieta, 9-2; Regaled, Joseph Ramos, 3-1; Dazzling Move, Edwin Gonzalez, 15-1; Om N Joy, Kent Desormeaux, 15-1; Nerazurri, Cristian Torres, 6-1; Five G, John Velazquez, 10-1; Claret Beret, Husbands, 8-1; and Blue Fire, Florent Geroux, 15-1.
The forecast for next Saturday is a high of 75 degrees, and a 75 percent chance of precipitation, according to AccuWeather.
The Apple Blossom will go as the 10th race on a 12-race card that begins at 12:45 p.m. Central. It shares a card with the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap as part of the continuation of the Racing Festival of the South.
The Count Fleet from the rail with riders: Maximum Bourbon, Ramon Vazquez; Tough Catch, Jose Ortiz; Booth, Erik Asmussen; Mad House, Paco Lopez; Roll On Big Joe, Julien Leparoux; Wendelssohn, John Velazquez; Tejano Twist, Francisco Arrieta; and Dreaminblue, Rafael Bejarano.
The Count Fleet goes as the eighth race next Saturday.
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