Champion three-year-old filly ASHADO (Saint Ballado) will make her first
appearance this year against seven challengers in Saturday’s $500,000 Apple Blossom H.
(G1). The 1 1/16-mile event will finally have a new winner after being dominated
by retired Horse of the Year Azeri (Jade Hunter) over the past three years, and Ashado figures
to be a heavy favorite to fill that role. The Todd Pletcher trainee captured the
Kentucky Oaks (G1), Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) and
Cotillion H. (G2) last year before completing her season with a 1 1/4-length
victory in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), and she’s the 121-pound highweight
Saturday with jockey John Velazquez.
She’ll faced an accomplished rival in ISLAND FASHION (Petionville), a three-time
Grade 1 heroine who will be making her third start of the year for trainer Marcelo Polanco.
The five-year-old mare exits an unplaced effort against males in the Santa Anita
H. (G1). STAR PARADE (Arg) (Parade Marshal) is another multiple Grade 1-winning
opponent, and DREAM OF SUMMER (Siberian Summer) just missed by a nose when
second in the Santa Margarita Invitational H. (G1) in mid-March.
Dream of Summer drew the innermost post and will carry 116 pounds, including
jockey Pat Valenzuela. Next in post position order comes Star Parade, John
McKee, 116; SHADOW CAST (Smart Strike), Calvin Borel, 114; GOOD STUDENT (Arg)
(Louis Quatorze), Eibar Coa, 112; HOUSE OF FORTUNE (Free House), Coa, 114;
Ashado; Island Fashion, Jamie Theriot, 117; and ISLAND SAND (Tabasco Cat), Terry
Thompson, 114.
The $500,000 Oaklawn Park H. (G2) will be held two races earlier and features
a field of five. EDDINGTON (Unbridled), a convincing 3 1/4-length winner of the
Gulfstream Park H. (G2) in his last outing, is the 117-pound highweight for the
nine-furlong contest. His rivals include the second- and third-place finishers
from the recent New Orleans H. (G2), LIMEHOUSE (Grand Slam) and SECOND OF JUNE
(Louis Quatorze).
The complete field, starting from the rail, is Second of June, Valenzuela,
113; CROWNED KING (Barkerville), Luis Quinonez, 110; Limehouse, Velazquez, 115; GRAND
REWARD (Storm Cat), McKee, 112; and Eddington, Coa.