Apple Blossom H. | Horse Racing Free Tips

The Ken McPeek shedrow is flush with fillies, two of which–Tabor Hall (Candy Ride {Arg}) and Trapeze S. winner Oliviaofthedesert (Bernardini)–are set to represent the stable in this weekend's GIII Honeybee S. at Oaklawn Park.

“They're both two-turn fillies,” McPeek told the Oaklawn notes team. “I think it's ideal timing for both of them to see where they fit in the scheme of the Oaks and the 3-year-old filly division. Olivia won a nice little race out at Remington and Tabor Hall's shown quality. They're both doing well and the timing was good.”

The best may be yet to come, however, as McPeek is also readying last year's GIII Remington Park Oaks and GII Falls City S. victress Envoutante (Uncle Mo) for an appearance in the GII Azeri S. in Hot Springs Mar. 13. That race is the final local prep for the GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 17, an event that could also attract the McPeek barn's heaviest hitter, GI Preakness S. and GI Alabama S. heroine Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), who is likely to make her 4-year-old debut in the GI Beholder Mile S. at Santa Anita Mar. 13.

“Her last race was a beast race,” McPeek said Wednesday afternoon, referring to Envoutante's six-length romp in the Falls City. “She and Swiss have been getting ready down here [in Florida] and I've been trying to keep them separated. I made a decision and it looks like Swiss is going to California. It's a high-level problem. I'm pretty heavy on fillies this year, for some odd, unusual reason.”

Swiss Skydiver ended her sophomore season on a down note, finishing well behind Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff Nov. 7. When asked if she might be a candidate for the Apple Blossom, McPeek said: “Yeah, it's possible. I think the timing is pretty good for both of them to run back there.”

Though McPeek has never won the Apple Blossom, the outstanding Take Charge Lady (Dehere) was just run down in the waning strides of the 2003 renewal by reigning Horse of the Year Azeri (Jade Hunter).

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With divisional heavies the likes of Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute), Serengeti Empress (Alternation) and the comebacking Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) all eye-balling a potential clash in the GII Fleur de Lis S. at Churchill Downs in two weeks’ time, Saturday’s GI Ogden Phipps S. may lack a ‘marquee’ name, per se, but it remains a competitive affair that offers the winner a fees-paid berth into the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland Nov. 7.

Ollie’s Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}), winner of last year’s GI Clement L. Hirsch S., was fourth in last year’s Distaff, but has not lost a step at five. A distant third to Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) in the Mar. 14 GI Beholder Mile S., the homebred was given an enterprising ride by Joel Rosario in the GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 18, leading on a supersonic pace only to be nabbed on the line by Ce Ce. She is a deserving favorite, but must prove she can handle this track’s one-turn route configuration and there figure to be no breathers this time around either.

Somewhat surprisingly, Point of Honor (Curlin) makes her first appearance at Big Sandy, having won the 2019 GII Black-Eyed Susan S. at Pimlico while finishing runner-up in the GI CCA Oaks and GI Alabama S. at Saratoga. A useful second in a seven-furlong handicap at Tampa Mar. 7, the chestnut found herself as many as 23 lengths off the pace in the Apple Blossom after a slow start, was very wide on the turn and ran on gamely to be third, beaten under three lengths.

“We hope for a better trip,” said Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ President Aron Wellman. “She got pinched at the back and lost all position. She was hung wide and had to weave her way through traffic and still ran very, very well in a highly-rated Apple Blossom. I was proud of the effort that day and I’m hoping for a better trip.”

The beautifully bred Pink Sands (Tapit), a daughter of GISW Her Smile (Include), was a listed winner last season, but has discovered her best form this year at five with swooping successes in the one-mile GIII Rampart S. in December and in the GII Inside Information S. the following month. She, too, would benefit from any speed duel up ahead of her and a board finish at this level would enhance her already considerable value going forward.

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