Horse Racing Nation Expert Picks: 2022 Apple Blossom
With four top-level winners lining up in the gate, including champions Letruska and Ce Ce, the horse racing world has been buzzing about the Grade 1, $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap all spring.
Below is how the experts will play Saturday's Oaklawn feature.
Candice Curtis, Horse Racing Nation
Winner: #3 Clairiere
On the Board: #2 Letruska
Longshot I Like: #1 Maracuja
Analysis: If Letruska is going to be vulnerable this year, it may be this race. She's coming back off a layoff, and will face some pace pressure from #4 Miss Imperial. Ce Ce has shown she can sit off a pace and she has experience on the Oaklawn surface, but I am going with #3 Clairiere to win this one with her late kick. Maracuja also will be running late and at a price, she's worth playing.
Sara Elbadwi, Horse Racing Nation
Winner: #2 Letruska
On the Board: #3 Clairiere
Longshot I Like: #5 Ce Ce
Analysis: Hard to look past Letruska in here, especially with the pace advantage she'll have. Doesn't look like anybody will be challenging early (on paper) and seems like something would have to go wrong in order for her to lose. Clairiere seems poised for a big 4-year-old season. If it's time to pass the torch, she's the likeliest to receive.
Chip Gehrke, Division Rankings
Winner: #2 Letruska
On the Board: #3 Clairiere
Longshot I Like: #5 Ce Ce
Analysis: Letruska has been here before, beating a much stronger field in last year's Apple Blossom. While the competition this year is by no means a pushover, she figures to handle this group and continue her dominance of this division. Clairiere impressed in her final start of 2021, a near miss in the Breeders' Cup Distaff. Her first out this year, while visually impressive, came against a sub-par field. Still, she should get a piece of this with her late run. Ce Ce figures to be overbet in this spot. More effective sprinting, she won this event two years ago, but there were no Letruskas in that field. While I can't see her winning, she should contend for a spot underneath.
Jerrod Horak, Best Bets
Winner: #5 Ce Ce
On the Board: #2 Letruska
Longshot I Like: #1 Maracuja
Analysis: Ce Ce is on top of her game and should work out a nice outside stalking trip in her third start after a layoff. She won this race in 2020 and exits a smart local score in the Azeri. Letruska is the target and she loves to win races. Maracuja returned with a nice local tally April 1.
Wagers: #5 to win, Exacta 2-5/1
Rowan Ward, Horse Racing Nation
Winner: #2 Letruska
On the Board: #3 Clairiere, #5 Ce Ce
Analysis: Letruska is not only the best horse in the field, but she is fast enough early to make the top and stay the distance. Clairiere is the kind of off-pace horse who can make an early move, giving her a good chance to get up for the place over Ce Ce, who is a solid router but truly top-class going shorter than this.
Wagers: This is a good race for keeping your bets narrow. Single Letruska in multi-race wagers and do cold exactas (Letruska over Clairiere) or trifectas (Letruska over Clairiere over Ce Ce).