Apple Blossom Handicap: Preview, Odds And Analysis

Horse racing remains shut down at most tracks, but five are still running races in the U.S. including Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

The $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for fillies and mares is the biggest race of the weekend and will generate the most betting action. I provided a Apple Blossom Betting Guide for TheLines, and you can review the analysis and insight along with 14-horse field and opening odds.

APPLE BLOSSOM POST POSITIONS AND ODDS

APPLE BLOSSOM BETTING GUIDE

Race 10 at Oaklawn Park is 1 1/16 miles on the dirt with post time at 6:16 p.m. ET on Sat., April 18, 2020.

Insight and analysis on a few horses of interest.

Point of Honor (10-1) is well bred by Curlin and she will be looking to close off the fast fractions. One of the best young riders out West is aboard in Draden Van Dyke, and Point of Honor has run at four different race tracks while winning three times and also has three runner-up finishes her last three starts. Point of Honor has produced consistent speed numbers and won the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) last year at 1 1/8 miles while finishing well in front of Cookie Dough, and she should be better than her sprint race last time out.

Ce Ce (7-2) makes her two turn debut and both also race at Oaklawn for the first time with Santa Anita closed due to COVID-19. Ce Ce makes her third graded stakes start and the lightly-raced 4-year-old is now 2-for-2 this year since returning from a minor injury and layoff. Ce Ce won the one-mile Beholder (G1) last month from off the pace and was seven lengths better than Ollie’s Candy. Ce Ce’s con continue her improved racing as her style can pay off sitting off the leaders with a fast pace allowing her to stride home strong down the stretch.

But Ollie’s Candy is a hard-knocking mare worth inclusion at this value price. She makes her tenth straight graded stakes start having won two with seven in-the-money finishes out West plus a fourth place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff last November when unable to hold up down the stretch at a longer 1 1/8 mile distance against Blue Prize and champion Midnight Basou.

I’m not a pick seller, and don’t dig deep into the racing form or videos. I take information available, research and provide insight and analysis into races and the industry. I have select colleagues and professional horse handicappers that provide insight along the way.

Here is my thoughts for the Apple Blossom and Pick 4.

Win – Point of Honor and Ce Ce

Exacta – 5, 11, 14 / 5, 11, 1, 3, 13, 14

Trifecta – 5, 14 / 5, 11, 13, 14 / 1, 3, 5, 9, 11, 13, 14

Pick 4 for .50 cents is $30 – 2, 3, 5 / 1, 5, 6 10 / 5, 9, 11, 13, 14 / 2

The impressive list of Apple Blossom winners make up a who’s who of some of the best race mares of all time from Midnight Basou (2018), Bayakoa (1989), Paseana (1992, 1993), Azeri (2002, 2003, 2004), Stellar Wind (2017) and of course the great champion mare Zenyatta (2010), who won easily as the dominating 1-20 favorite. Zenyatta went on to finish her career in 2010 with 19 wins in 20 starts and her lone defeat a runner-up finish in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic against the boys after winning that same race in 2009 along with the Preakness Stakes.

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POST RACE UPDATE

Wow, what a finish! YouTube video of Apple Blossom Handicap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDso5AdyBBE

Ce Ce (7/2) rallies to win by a nose over Ollies Candy (7-1). Point of Honor (6-1) finishes third. Two California shippers finish 1st and 2nd.

Horse	Win	Place	Show
14 Ce Ce	$9.80	$5.80	$4.60
1 Ollie’s Candy		$7.60	$4.60
5 Point of Honor			$5.20
$1 Exacta (14-1)	$35.90
.50 Trifecta (14-1-5)	$128.05

$20 Win and Place bets on Ce Ce return $98.00 and $58.00

Post Favorite Serengeti Empress finished 11th and Morning Line Favorite Come Dancing finished 12th.