Trip Notes for April 18-19, 2020: Apple Blossom and Count Fleet

April 18

Oaklawn
Count Fleet (race 8)

COMMENT: In a time where so much has changed it’s nice to know one thing hasn’t – Whitmore. The 7-year-old powered home to win this race for the third time in the last four years (ran second to eventual sprint champion Mitole last year). The gelded son of Pleasantly Perfect, coming off a big win in the Hot Springs here March 7, looked good as ever as he broke alertly, got a nice trip stalking Bobby’s Wicked One and Share the Upside through strong splits while sitting outside, moved up easily while wide on the far turn to be just off Share the Upside and Hidden Scroll, was asked for run into the lane, came abreast of those two in the stretch, quickly asserted his authority, opened up and won comfortably, even if Flagstaff cut into his margin in the final half-furlong. What a marvelous career for a guy who was once thought to be a router (ran third to Creator in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby here in 2016, then 19th in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby to Nyquist). Runner-up Flagstaff closed the gap strongly in the final half-furlong but the issue had already been put to bed. Flagstaff, coming off a strong win in the Grade 2 San Carlos at Santa Anita March 7, ran splendidly in defeat. He blew the start as he hopped out of the gate, getting away last, soon had to check off a rival’s heels to further lose position, had to bide his time at the back of the pack, started a smart wide run on the far turn, continued it into the lane while staying wide and finished full of run but too late. The start might not have cost him the victory, but it surely kept him from being even more of a threat. Manny Wah bounced back as after a dull sixth as the favorite against optional claimers here March 29. He sat midpack between horses, remained there to the top of the lane, started to advance, moved toward the rail for room in midstretch and finished well, though he was never really a danger to the winner. Nitrous, making his first start since finishing fifth in a Grade 3 turf sprint at Kentucky Downs last Sept. 12, lagged back, as expected, started a run on the far turn a few lanes off the rail, continued his rally between horses in the lane, finishing well to get up for fourth, though he was never really a threat to the winner. Share the Upside dueled with Bobby’s Wicked One to his inside, remained locked in battle with that foe to the far turn, took over from that tiring foe only to be immediately challenged by Hidden Scroll to his outside, then by Whitmore wider out, fought on gamely to midstretch before giving way. Hidden Scroll, much ballyhooed by many after his monstrous debut win at Gulfstream in January 2019 and a romping 12 1/2-length win at Gulfstream March 1 in his first start in 10 months, pressed the issue between horses, moved up seemingly very comfortably outside Bobby’s Wicked One and Share the Upside into the far turn, challenged outside Share the Upside for the lead turning for home, took the lead into the lane but was soon confronted by Whitmore to his outside and came up empty thereafter. He steadied when in tight a few strides before the wire though that likely didn’t cost him a better position. Could be he’s monstrous when he gets everything his way up front but if that doesn’t happen, well, this is the result. Bobby’s Wicked One broke alertly from his inside post, showed his speed as expected to duel with Share the Upside, continued to battle with that foe while holding the fence to the far turn but then gave way badly and was basically eased under the wire.

Oaklawn
Apple Blossom (race 10)

COMMENT: Despite a brutal draw (post No. 14) Ce Ce managed a terrific trip and showed courage to notch her second straight Grade 1 win, leading a Southern California exacta. Coming off an easy victory in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita March 14, the daughter of Elusive Quality broke well from that dreadful draw, had the speed to stalk as Ollie’s Candy, Cookie Dough and Serengeti Empress shot out to make the running, was able to move toward the inside by the first turn avoiding getting hung out to dry, bided her time stalking those rivals as well as Come Dancing to her inside, started a wide run on the far turn, pitched wider still into the lane and finished resolutely to edge Ollie’s Candy to her inside. Ollie’s Candy, a well-beaten third to Ce Ce in the Beholder Mile, showed new tactics here as the daughter of Candy Ride broke sharply from her rail slot, went right to the lead, was immediately engaged by Cookie Dough and favorite Serengeti Empress wider out with Come Dancing on her heels, dueled through sizzling splits, dispatched with those rivals, opened up into the lane to look like the winner as she stayed on the fence only to get nailed late by Ce Ce a few lanes to her outside. Point of Honor, second in a sprint at Tampa March 7, her first start in seven months, was away very slowly to be last early, was still well back going into the far turn, started a wide run on the turn, pitched wider still into the lane and finished well to nip Street Band for third, though she was no danger to the top two. Street Band, fourth to Serengeti Empress in the Grade 2 Azeri here March 14, lagged well back, started to advance on the far turn, moved to the inside into the lane, finished well up the rail but just got edged for third. Horologist was a bit unlucky. She sat midpack from the start, moved to the rail into the backstretch, bided her time there, started to advance with an inside run into the far turn, was just behind the leaders on the far turn when she ran into a wall of horses, had to steady, remained boxed in behind runners into the stretch, looked for room but found none, swung out in midstretch to find a lane, finally got clear sailing and finished with good energy, though it was far too late. She wasn’t going to win but the trouble cost her a shot at third. Serengeti Empress, favored off her front-running win in the Azeri here last month, broke a bit slowly, was thus beaten to the punch by Ollie’s Candy and Cookie Dough to her inside, battled three wide into the clubhouse turn to try and get the lead, was then taken back some into the backstretch when it became apparent she couldn’t make the lead, moved closer on the far turn but came up empty in the lane. No doubt she’s simply best when able to wing it early but circumstances (and a couple other fast horses) prevented that here. Come Dancing, the 3-1 morning line favorite but ignored in the wagering to go off at 9-1 while making her first start since finishing sixth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Santa Anita Nov. 2 and her first start around two turns, broke well, got a nice trip sitting just behind the dueling trio while saving ground, was urged to get closer on the far turn, did so momentarily as if ready to threaten but then came up empty in the lane. She may simply be better going shorter around one turn.