Streamline seeks grand slam in Apple Blossom

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – It won’t be easy, but Streamline has a chance Friday to complete an amazing grand slam at Oaklawn Park in the Apple Blossom Handicap.

Streamline, who is trained by Brian Williamson and owned by his mother-in-law Nancy Vanier, has won stakes at Oaklawn the past three years. She won the Pippin in 2016, the Grade 2 Azeri in 2017, and the Grade 3 Bayakoa this February.

Those races and the Apple Blossom make up the older filly and mare distance series at Oaklawn. Streamline already is the only runner to win the Pippin, which was inaugurated in 1982; the Azeri, which was first run in 1987; and the Bayakoa, which dates to 1992.

Streamline is a 6-year-old Illinois-bred daughter of Straight Line. This will likely be her last season of competition.

“The Apple Blossom would be the sweep, but I don’t know if we’re coming back next year for it,” Williamson said.

Streamline finished second in the 2016 Apple Blossom to Forever Unbridled and third in 2017 to Stella Wind. She will be up against it again this year when she takes on heavy favorite Unique Bella, who is shipping in from California.

“Maybe some of that home cooking will help,” Williamson said of his home-field advantage.

In all, Streamline is 11-3-2-5 at Oaklawn the last three years with local earnings of $637,000. She is 8 for 22 in her career.

Streamline was off from last May until this meet. Williamson said the layoff was not due to soundness issues but because of minor reproductive medical issues. With everything now okay, she will in all probability be bred in 2019.

“Having her has been a blessing,” Williamson said. “To be able to come down to Oaklawn every year with a live stakes horse has been amazing.”