Saturday Plays: Picks for Apple Blossom day stakes

Besides the star field lined up for the Grade 1, $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap on Saturday, Oaklawn Park offers two more great stakes races in the $150,000 Oaklawn Stakes and Grade 2, $1 million Oaklawn Handicap.

                        Click here for Oaklawn entries and results.

Here is short recap of the Apple Blossom analysis posted earlier, as well as value selections for the Oaklawn Stakes and Oaklawn Handicap.

Oaklawn Race 5: Apple Blossom Handicap (G1)

The defending champion Letruska enters the race as the deserving favorite off her incredible season last year, which began with winning the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) after a memorable battle with Monomoy Girl.

She went on to capture the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1), Fleur De Lis Stakes (G2), Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) and Spinster Stakes (G1) before folding in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff after a fast pace resulted the front end collapsing.

Letruska won the Royal Delta Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream to kick off this campaign. However, she is a 6-year-old mare now and her price is low.

Clairiere began her new campaign in great fashion by winning an optional claimer at Fair Grounds by 6 1/2 lengths while handridden by Joel Rosario. Her 115 TimeformUS Speed Figure for the Fair Grounds romp only falls two points shy of Letruska’s 117 for winning the Royal Delta.

As a closer, Clairiere might need help from Miss Imperial and Ce Ce to give Letruska a 1-2 punch in order to weaken her on the front end. Bettors need to demand at least 3-1 or higher in order to account for the pace concern.

Then again, maybe Rosario can keep Clairiere a little closer if he asks. In the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), she was able to press Malathaat before fading late. This distance of the Apple Blossom is a little shorter.

Win: 3 (at 3-1 or higher)

Use Letruska and Clairiere in multi-race wagers.

Oaklawn Race 8: Oaklawn Stakes

Stellar Tap is the morning line favorite at 5/2, but he is an unappealing choice based on his inability to win again after his career debut.

Kuchar looks like an interesting option after he broke his maiden locally on March 13 with a 97 TimeformUS Speed Figure. He gives the impression of a grinding type who can improve stretching out to nine furlongs in this spot.

Home Brew deserves some respect too based on his win here last December in an optional claimer. Cross out his 10th-place finish over the slop in the Smarty Jones Stakes. Home Brew returns in a soft stakes race here for trainer Brad Cox and he should enjoy the nine furlongs.

Win/place: 3 (at 9/2 or higher)

Use Kuchar and Home Brew in multi-race wagers.

Oaklawn Race 11: Oaklawn Handicap (G2)

Nothing is wrong with Fearless. In his most recent start, he won the Ghostzapper Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream by six lengths.

His losses in the Gulfstream Park Mile (G2) and Fred W. Hooper Stakes (G3) came against Speaker’s Corner, who went on to capture the Carter Handicap (G1) Aqueduct. Fearless ran second against him in both races.

But the return of Idol is interesting because he brings TimeformUS figures that can beat Fearless, if he returns to his previous form.

Before going on the shelf, Idol won the 2021 Santa Anita Handicap over Express Train and Maxfield with a 126 TimeformUS Speed Figure. To put that number in perspective, Fearless has not broken 120 this year.

Perhaps there is some kind of west coast bias with the speed figures. Without thinking about the numbers though, Maxfield won the Clark Stakes (G1) later in the year and Express Train has turned into a win machine now. Idol beat some good horses in his Big Cap victory. 

At a minimum, Idol is worth including in tickets.

Win/place: 4 (at 5-1 or higher)

Use Fearless and Idol and multi-race wagers.