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‘We’re Coming With A Beast’: McPeek Says Swiss Skydiver Ready To Take On Monomoy Girl In Apple Blossom

Shortly after weights were released early Saturday afternoon, trainer Kenny McPeek said champion Swiss Skydiver “absolutely” would return to Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark., for a showdown with champion Monomoy Girl in the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles April 17.

“We're coming with a beast,” McPeek said.

Post positions for the Apple Blossom and the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G1) for older horses April 17 will be drawn Tuesday. Monomoy Girl was assigned top weight of 124 pounds for the Apple Blossom, 2 pounds more than Swiss Skydiver.

In her first start against older horses, notably Monomoy Girl, Swiss Skydiver finished seventh in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 7 at Keeneland after stumbling at the start of the 1 1/8-mile race. The Distaff was a weight-for-age race, with Monomoy Girl carrying equal top weight of 124 pounds. Swiss Skydiver carried 121.

“Fair enough,” McPeek said, referring to the Apple Blossom weights. “After this race, we'll have to give her weight then.”

Swiss Skydiver earned an Eclipse Award as the country's champion 3-year-old filly of 2020 following a coast-to-coast campaign that saw the daughter of Daredevil capture 5 of 10 starts, including the $400,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn, $200,000 Santa Anita Oaks (G2) at Santa Anita, $200,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) at Gulfstream Park and the $500,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. Swiss Skydiver also toppled males, including future Horse of the Year Authentic, in the Preakness – the third leg of the revamped 2020 Triple Crown – Oct. 3 at Pimlico under two-time Oaklawn riding champion Robby Albarado.

Swiss Skydiver launched her 2021 campaign with a sharp 2 ¾-length victory under Albarado in the $300,000 Beholder Mile (G1) March 13 at Santa Anita.

McPeek said Swiss Skydiver will be vanned from Churchill Downs, where she worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 Saturday morning over a fast track, “probably” arriving Tuesday night “as long as the weather's clear when she can travel.”

“Robby Albarado's coming down to get on her every day,” McPeek said. “My regular team will be with her.”

Two-time Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl completed major preparations for the Apple Blossom with a half-mile work in company just after the track opened Sunday morning at Oaklawn for trainer Brad Cox.

Monomoy Girl had been scheduled to breeze Saturday morning, but the work was postponed because of an off track. Working over a fast track under regular rider Florent Geroux, Monomoy Girl went in :47.60 and galloped out five furlongs in :59.60 and six furlongs in 1:12.80, according to clockers. Monomoy Girl (on the outside) worked with stablemate Owendale, a millionaire graded stakes-winning male who is scheduled to run in the Oaklawn Handicap. Monomoy Girl started about a length behind Owendale and finished about a length ahead.

“Just great, as usual,” Geroux said. “Just maintenance – nice and easy – and finished up very strong. Seemed like the track was a little quick this morning. She handled it perfectly. Very pleased with her and just can't wait for next Saturday.”

Monomoy Girl will be making her first start since winning the $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) Feb. 28 at Oaklawn in her 2021 debut. She was the county's champion 3-year-old filly of 2018 and champion older dirt female last year. Overall, Monomoy Girl has won 14 of 16 lifetime starts.

Multiple graded stakes winner Letruska, also ticketed for the Apple Blossom, worked just before the first surface renovation break Sunday morning at Oaklawn for trainer Fausto Gutierrez.

The speed Letruska recorded a half-mile bullet (:47.20) and galloped five furlongs in :59.40, according to clockers, with a last quarter-mile in :23.

“I was looking for an easy work,” Gutierrez said. “When I checked the time, I think she went fast. She's got a lot of speed. I think it's OK and she's in good form.”

Gutierrez said three-time reigning Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. would have the mount in the Apple Blossom. Letruska (118 pounds) was the only other probable listed by the Oaklawn racing department Sunday morning. Letruska (12 for 17 overall) finished second, beaten a head by Shedaresthedevil, in the $350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) March 13 at Oaklawn. Shedaresthedevil captured Oaklawn's $300,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) and the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) last year for Cox and co-owner Staton Flurry of Hot Springs. Swiss Skydiver was second in the Kentucky Oaks, the nation's biggest race for 3-year-old fillies.

The Oaklawn racing department listed nine probables Sunday morning for the Oaklawn Handicap – Express Train (122 pounds), Fearless (119), Owendale (119), Enforceable (118), Silver State (118), Warrior's Charge (118), Rated R Superstar (116), Silver Prospector (116) and Guest Suite (115).

Express Train finished second, beaten a half-length, in the $400,000 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) March 6 at Santa Anita for trainer John Shirreffs, who won the Apple Blossom twice (2008 and 2010) with future Hall of Famer Zenyatta.

Silver State has won four consecutive starts for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, including Oaklawn's $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes Jan. 23 and $500,000 Essex Handicap March 13.

The post ‘We’re Coming With A Beast’: McPeek Says Swiss Skydiver Ready To Take On Monomoy Girl In Apple Blossom appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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$25,507 Payout In Longshot-Dominated Cross Country Pick 5

Saturday's Cross Country Pick 5, featuring stakes action from Aqueduct, Oaklawn Park and Keeneland Race Course, returned $25,507.25 for selecting all five winner's for the 50-cent wager. The total was pool was $180,061.

The action started with the sequence's lone non-stakes in Aqueduct's Race 7, when Family Biz overtook Yankee Division in the stretch to win a one-mile main track allowance tilt for trainer Linda Rice at the Ozone Park, N.Y., track. Family Biz, ridden by Eric Cancel, returned $13.80 on a $2 win wager, victorious for the second time in five starts this year.

Keeneland, located in Lexington, Ky., commenced the stakes action in Race 8 when Change of Control posted a rallying one-length victory in the $100,000 Giant's Causeway for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up in a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint. Trained by Michelle Lovell and ridden by Colby Hernandez, Change of Control paid $19.80.

Aqueduct's first turf stakes of the year saw another double-digit payout, with the British-bred Delaware winning his first North American start with an impressive come-from-behind effort in the $100,000 Danger's Hour in Race 8. The Chad Brown trainee set a Big A track record for one mile on the inner turf course, running down Rinaldi in the final sixteenth to hit the wire in 1:33.67 under a drive by jockey Manny Franco. Delaware, a Group 3 winner in France before arriving in the United States, paid $22.20.

King Fury provide the wager's biggest payday, winning the Grade 3, $200,000 Lexington at 18-1 odds for trainer Ken McPeek. King Fury, who tracked in eighth position in the nine-horse field of 3-year-olds through the opening quarter-mile, registered a 2 3/4-length win under Brian Hernandez, Jr., winning the 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Derby prep race that earned the winner 20 qualifying points to the “Run for the Roses” on May 1. King Fury paid $38.40 for winning Keeneland's ninth race, while Unbridled Honor, Starrinmydreams and Proxy finished second, third and fourth to earn 8-4-2 points, respectively.

Oaklawn closed out the contest with By My Standards edging Rushie by a nose to win the $400,000 Oaklawn Mile for 4-year-olds and up on the main track in Race 9. By My Standards, with Gabriel Saez in the irons, returned $6.80 for his off-the-pace effort at the Hot Springs, Arkansas track, earning a win for trainer Bret Calhoun.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on track, on ADW platforms, and at simulcast facilities across the country. Every week will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool.

The Cross Country Pick 5 will continue each Saturday throughout the year. For more information, visit NYRABets.com.

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Arkansas Derby An Asmussen Family Affair As Super Stock Posts $26.40 Upset

Getting a perfect trip under Ricardo Santana Jr. behind dueling front-runners Caddo River and Concert Tour, Erv Woolsey and Keith Asmussen's Dialed In colt Super Stock took command in the stretch for a 2 1/2-length victory in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on Saturday at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark.

Winning for just the second time in eight career starts, Super Stock ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.92 and paid $26.40. Brad Cox-trained Caddo River, who battled with previously unbeaten Bob Baffert-trained Concert Tour throughout the Arkansas Derby, finished second ahead of that rival by a head. Get Her Number, who like Super Stock was an also ran behind 1-5 Arkansas Derby favorite Concert Tour in the G2 Rebel Stakes on March 13, finished fourth, another half-length back.

The Arkansas Derby was the final qualifying points race for the 2021 Kentucky Derby, offering 100-40-20-10 to the top four finishers.

The victory was the fifth in the Arkansas Derby for trainer Steve Asmussen, who was awarded victory in a division of last year's running with Basin following the disqualification of Charlatan due to a failed drug test. He also won with Creator in 2016, Curlin in 2007 and Private Emblem in 2002. The five wins ties Asmussen with Todd Pletcher for the most victories in the race by a trainer.

Caddo River, breaking from the two post under Florent Geroux, gunned for the lead after the break. Concert Tour broke sharply from post five in the six-horse field under Joel Rosario but was not able to outrun his rival into the first turn, sitting just off Caddo River's flank around the bend and down the backstretch. The opening quarter mile was run in a quick :22.62 and the half mile went in :46.51.

Rosario stepped up the pressure going into the far turn after six furlongs in 1:11.25, while Santana and Super Stock saved ground just behind the two front-runners after breaking from the No. 1 stall. After rounding into the stretch, Santana opted to swing to the outside of both rivals rather than look for an inside route, and Super Stock responded, overtaking the two leaders in the final furlong after a mile fractional time of 1:37.64.

The win was a family affair for the Asmussens, as the trainer's father, Keith, a longtime respected horseman and former quarter horse jockey, is co-owner. Steve Asmussen's son, also named Keith, rode Super Stock in his first three starts during a brief riding career that mirrored his father's short tenure in the saddle before outgrowing the occupation. One of the races in which Keith Asmussen rode Super Stock was the colt's only previous victory in the Texas Thoroughbred Futurity at Lone Star Park last Aug. 11.

Bred in Kentucky by Pedro and P.J. Gonzalez, Super Stock is out of the Closing Argument mare, Super Girlie. He was a $70,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase by Keith Asmussen and Erv Woolsey from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment.

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C Z Rocket Gets The Best Of Whitmore Again In Count Fleet Sprint Handicap

Winning for the seventh time in eight races since being claimed for $40,000 last April, the 7-year-old City Zip gelding C Z Rocket defeated sprint champion Whitmore for the second time in a row on Saturday, taking the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap by two lengths at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark.

Ridden by Florent Geroux and trained by Peter Miller, C Z Rocket sped six furlongs in 1:09.62 on a fast track and paid $6 to win as the second choice in the wagering. He carried 122 pounds, one less than Whitmore, the 123-pound highweight.

Even-money favorite and local hero Whitmore, an 8-year-old by Pleasantly Perfect trained by Hot Springs resident Ron Moquett, finished second. Empire of Gold was third, another 1 1/2 lengths back, with Strike Power fourth, Mojo Man fifth, Mr. Jagermeister sixth and pacesetter No Parole last in the field of seven older runners.

The victory was the 11th in 25 career starts for C Z Rocket, who was bred in Florida by Farm III Enterprises LLC and sold for $800,000 to Frank Fletcher Racing Operations at the OBS June Sale of 2-year-olds in training in 2016.

C Z Rocket won his first three starts as a 3-year-old when racing for Fletcher and trainer Al Stall Jr. but was claimed from an April 30 race at Oaklawn that would be his 11th consecutive defeat. The City Zip gelding turned around quickly for Miller, winning a $50,000 claiming race at Churchill Downs, two allowance/optional claiming races and then scoring in the G2 Pat O'Brien Stakes at Del Mar for his first graded stakes triumph. He then won the G2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship but was defeated by Whitmore when second in the G1 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland. C Z Rocket turned the tables on Whitmore last out in the Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn, then doubled down with his Count Fleet victory.

C Z Rocket races for Madaket Stables LLC, Gary Barber and Tom Kagele.

In the Count Fleet, C Z Rocket broke well but was eased back off the pace in sixth as No Parole went quickly early, going :21.92 for the opening quarter and :45.35 for the half. Whitmore raced close to the front-runner down the backstretch and into the far turn and found a seam on the inside as the field hit the stretch.

Geroux swung C Z Rocket five wide at the top of the stretch and he quickly overtook the front-runners, winning with relative ease under a hand ride late from his jockey after passing the furlong pole in :57.53 for five furlongs.

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