Stellar Wind launches final season in Apple Blossom

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The champion Stellar Wind will launch what is anticipated to be her final year of racing on Friday, when she starts as the 122-pound highweight in the Grade 1, $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn. She is making her first start since the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, a race that is her long-range objective for 2017.

“The plan after her 3-year-old campaign was two more campaigns,” said John Sadler, who trains Stellar Wind for Hronis Racing. “We planned to run her at 5.”

Stellar Wind is part of a six-horse field that includes Streamline, the runner-up in last year’s Apple Blossom, and Terra Promessa, a three-time graded-stakes winner at Oaklawn. The Apple Blossom, a 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares, will share a card with the Grade 3, $400,000 Fantasy as part of the Racing Festival of the South.

Apple Blossom, Race 9

KEY CONTENDERS

Stellar Wind, by Curlin

Last 3 Beyers: 99-110-102

◗ She was the champion 3-year-old filly of 2015 and came back even stronger last year at 4, when she twice defeated the champion Beholder in Grade 1 races in Southern California. The pair had their final matchup Nov. 4 in the Breeders’ Cup, where the now-retired Beholder edged Songbird by a nose. Stellar Wind finished a troubled fourth in the race at Santa Anita.

“She took a step back when they sprung the gates, giving those horses a head start,” Sadler said. “It was the wrong day to have a bad start.”

◗ Sadler said Stellar Wind was freshened following the race and has prepped for her return at Santa Anita. She made a highly favorable appearance upon her arrival Tuesday at Oaklawn.

“She’s doing great,” Sadler said. “I think she’s fit enough to win or I wouldn’t have brought her. It’s her first race of the year. She’s had good, steady training at Santa Anita. Santa Anita’s been kind of a heavier track [this season]. She should be fine.”

◗ Sadler said the initial plan was for Stellar Wind to start her season at home in the Santa Margarita on March 18, but her schedule was interrupted due to unusually high levels of rain in January and February.

◗ Victor Espinoza has the mount from post 3.

“She’s pretty versatile,” Sadler said. “She could be right on the lead or back if situational tactics come into play. We’ll leave that up to Victor.

“Beating Beholder, we were up a little closer in those races.”

◗ Last year, she won the Clement L. Hirsch and Zenyatta stakes at the same distance as the Apple Blossom.

Streamline, by Straight Line

Last 3 Beyers: 85-85-87

◗ She won the Grade 2 Azeri on the front end in her last start March 18 but also has been effective from off the pace.

“It’s hard to tell what’s going to happen,” trainer Brian Williamson said of the race setup Friday. “I’m just glad we got the 6 hole. We can break and see what happens. I think my filly can come from off of it if she has to.”

◗ Streamline won the most significant race of her career in the Azeri, scoring by a length over Eskenformoney.

“She ran a really good race,” Williamson said. “She wanted it. It just came together. It seems like she’s kind of been blossoming here [the last month]. She’s starting to dapple out. It seems like she’s getting good right now.”

◗ Chris Landeros has the mount for Cartwright Thoroughbreds and breeder Nancy Vanier.