Clairière edges Secret Oath in hard-fought Apple Blossom win

Racing the weather as much as one another, Clairière caught Secret Oath in the shadow of the wire to win Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap as severe weather bore down on Oaklawn and Hot Springs, Ark.

The 5-year-old daughter of Curlin, bred and owned by Stonestreet Stables, waited until the final moments to pounce on the 3-5 favorite and 2022 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner to get her third career Grade 1 victory under jockey Joel Rosario and gave Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen his fourth win and second stakes victory on the day. It was also his third Apple Blossom victory following champions Midnight Bisou and Untapable.

“(Tactically) it played out like everybody thought it would,” Asmussen said. “I think Joel (Rosario) is fabulous about the theory that I have – races are from point A to point B. If you go from point A to point B as good as you can, you get the best outcome you can, whether it’s favorable or not. She’s a tremendous mare. She’s really good.”

Strategy proved to be key in the four-horse field, with Rosario taking a risk that front-runner Hot and Sultry could sneak away and Secret Oath could get a perfect trip. However, Clairière’s closing kick arrived just in time to get the win by a neck as the 3-2 second choice.

Secret Oath and jockey Tyler Gaffalione settled for second a neck behind ($2.10 to place) with Hot and Sultry fading to third in a race without show wagering. The winning time was 1:43.36 for 1 1/16 miles over a fast track.

“She responded really well today,” Rosario said. “I was watching the 1 horse in front of me (Secret Oath). She did really great. She really dug in there. I was able to get there in time. She always tries really hard.”

Clairiere improved her record to 18: 7-5-3 and has earned $2,831,392. She returned $5 and $2.40.

With a victory in the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) earlier on the card, Asmussen won his 100th and 101st stakes races at Oaklawn in his illustrious career.