Oaklawn Park: On Fire Baby, Rose to Gold work; Apple Blossom weights released

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - On Fire Baby and Rose to Gold put in final works for the Grade 1, $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap within minutes of each other after the renovation break Saturday at Oaklawn. The mile and a sixteenth race for fillies and mares is to be run Friday as part of the annual Racing Festival of the South.

On Fire Baby, who won last year’s Apple Blossom, worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 on a clear, 45 degree morning over a fast track. Oaklawn’s clocking staff had her final quarter in 23.60 seconds after carrying her through fractions in 12.20 seconds for the opening eighth of a mile; 24.40 for the first quarter; and 37.20 for three furlongs. On Fire Baby galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.20 and seven furlongs in 1:27.40.

Jockey Joe Johnson was aboard for owner Anita Cauley and trainer Gary Hartlage. The Apple Blossom will be her second start of the year after she ran a good fourth in the Grade 2, $200,000 Azeri on March 15.

Rose to Gold, who has shipped to Oaklawn from Calder Race Course, got reacquainted with the local strip by breezing a half-mile in 48.60 seconds. Last season, she won both the Grade 3, $400,000 Fantasy and Grade 3, $150,000 Honeybee at Oaklawn.

Rose to Gold worked under jockey Calvin Borel, who will have the mount in the Apple Blossom, according to trainer Sal Santoro. She went her first quarter in 24.60 seconds and her final quarter in 24 seconds, according to Oaklawn clockers. Rose to Gold was on cruise control through the stretch, and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.60.

Rose to Gold last raced on Feb. 16, and was seventh in the Grade 2 Sabin at Gulfstream Park. Prior to that race, she won the $400,000 Sam Houston Ladies Classic on Jan. 25.

Also breezing Saturday was Prayer for Relief, who is nominated to the Grade 2, $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap. The mile and an eighth race is April 12. Prayer for Relief worked a co-bullet five furlongs in 1:00.40 under jockey Norberto Arroyo, Jr., with clockers getting his final quarter in 23.20 seconds and galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.80.

Prayer for Relief shared the fastest five-furlong time of the day with Thundergram, who was prepping for the Arkansas Derby.

Frac Daddy, another nominee to the Oaklawn Handicap, breezed a half-mile in 48 seconds Saturday.

Apple Blossom: Close Hatches to carry 121 pounds

Close Hatches has been highweighted at 121 pounds for the Grade 1, $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park on Friday. The weight assignments for the mile and a sixteenth race for fillies and mares were released Saturday.

Close Hatches, an Eclipse Award finalist for champion 3-year-old filly of 2013, won the Grade 2, $200,000 Azeri at Oaklawn last month in her first start since finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff in November. Close Hatches is expected to return for the Apple Blossom for Juddmonte Farms and trainer Bill Mott.

Dreaming of Julia, Iotapa, and Let Faith Arise are weighted next on the list at 117. Of those runners, at least Let Faith Arise is expected to start for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. Dreaming of Julia is being considered for the Apple Blossom, as is her stablemate Teen Pauline (116).

On Fire Baby, who won the Apple Blossom last year, and Rose to Gold, who captured the Fantasy at Oaklawn in 2013, are both weighted at 115. Both horses are expected to run Friday.

Others on the list of 18 nominees, with weights, include Fiftyshadesofhay (115), Ondine (115) and Magic Union (113).