Oaklawn: Havre de Grace works five furlongs; assigned top weight of 123 for Apple Blossom
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Horse of the Year Havre de Grace breezed a leisurely five furlongs in 1:02.20 on Saturday morning at Oaklawn Park in preparation for a possible start in next Friday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap.
Later on Saturday, Havre de Grace was assigned top weight of 123 pounds for the 1 1/16-mile race when weights were released at noon. Plum Pretty, winner of last year’s Kentucky Oaks who is pointing to the Apple Blossom, was assigned 117 pounds. The complete list of weights are as follows: Awesome Maria was second-weighted at 122; It’s Tricky, 119; Tiz Miz Sue, 115; Absinthe Minded, 114; Twelve Twenty Two, 113; She’s All In, 112; Holy Heavens, 111; and Soaring Goddess, 110.
For the Grade 2, $400,000 Oaklawn Handicap against males, Havre de Grace was weighted at 118 along with Hymn Book and Ron the Greek. The highweight is Mission Impazible at 120.
For her work, Havre de Grace came onto the track, which was rated fast, about 6:45 a.m. Central. She warmed up to just past the wire, and stood for a few minutes under jockey Jenna Joubert. The pair then proceeded to the backside, where Havre de Grace went into her work.Oaklawn head clocker Jim Hamilton carried her through fractions of 12.40 seconds for the opening eighth of a mile and 37.60 for three furlongs. She galloped out six furlongs in 1:15.40.
Hamilton had the final quarter of Havre de Grace’s work in 24.40 seconds.
Havre de Grace arrived Monday afternoon from Fair Grounds to prepare for a possible start in the Apple Blossom, a race she won a year ago. Trainer Larry Jones said earlier this week that a final decision on her status for the Apple Blossom would be made after he and owner Rick Porter look over the weights for the handicap.
The Apple Blossom would be the second start of the year for Havre de Grace, who won the $150,000 New Orleans Ladies at Fair Grounds on March 17. During her Horse of the Year campaign in 2011 she won such races as the Woodward over males at Saratoga in September, and the Beldame at Belmont Park on October. She also finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Jones said Ramon Dominguez will have the mount on Havre de Grace if she runs in the Apple Blossom. Entries for the race will be taken on Tuesday.