Apple Blossom guide: It's all about Thorpedo Anna

Photo: Candice Chavez / Eclipse Sportswire

Oaklawn hosts the Grade 1, 1 1/16-mile Apple Blossom on Saturday with a $1.25 million purse. Thorpedo Anna, the star of the show and reigning horse of the year, is arguably the top race horse in training. Post time is set for 6:48 p.m. EDT.

This is not the first time a champion has graced the Hot Springs, Ark., oval. Since its first running for females in 1973, Susan's Girl, Bold'n Determined, Bayakoa and Paseana, Heavenly Prize and Banshee Breeze have won the Apple Blossom. Azeri, the 2002 horse of the year, won the Apple Blossom that season and then twice more and is the namesake of the local prep for this race. Of course Zenyatta won the Apple Blossom twice, and most recently, Untapable and Midnight Bisou passed through adding this Grade 1 to their championship résumés.

With such luminaries attracted to this spot, this year's short field of seven is not an unusual number to draw in. 

Coverage of the Apple Blossom will be on FS1's "America's Day at the Races" beginning at 6 p.m. EDT. FanDuel TV also will have the Apple Blossom and other Oaklawn races as part of its regular racing presentation.

When it comes to great horses and great stories, Horse Racing Nation's Brian Zipse has chapters full and is back this week to share his excitement about Thorpedo Anna with the Ron Flatter Racing Pod. Tune in and also get his take on the Kentucky Derby and more.

Top speed figures from the past 12 months for the Apple Blossom contenders: 

*Beyer and TimeformUS speed figures are provided courtesy of Daily Racing Form.

Pace makes the race

Pace, of course, makes the race. But with Thorpedo Anna's tactical ability and regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. in the irons, a meltdown that affects her is unlikely. Still, thoughtful bettors should take note of the speed figures and use them to their advantage in exotics. See more about the pace and speed here.

HRN picks

Zipse and Matt Shifman are back with another written HorseCenter with their plays for the Apple Blossom and the Lexington at Keeneland.

Mike Shutty, the Super Screener creator, says the best bet for the Apple Blossom is the cold exacta.

"Thorpedo Anna offers absolutely no value at all, so let's take a look at no. 3 Free Like a Girl to be used underneath Thorpedo Anna in a heavy exacta wager," Shutty said. "Free Like a Girl is an often-raced but highly productive 6-year-old mare who finished second behind Thorpedo Anna in their last starts (the Grade 2 Azeri Stakes).

"Her last two races were some of her recent best outings, and she just fired two bullet works following those races. She will very well be a big price again and is the only filly in here that has been this close to Thorpedo Anna."

Get the Apple Blossom, as well as Saturday's Keeneland stakes analysis free when you reserve your copy of the Kentucky Derby Super Screener.

Finally, HRN's Ed DeRosa also has some tips for playing this race, including minimum odds for the six contenders facing Thorpedo Anna and one long shot worth a play.