First Look: Apple Blossom + Keeneland stakes on tap

Champions square off Saturday at Oaklawn as Ce Ce and Letruska are expected to meet in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn.

Older female stars also will be featured in Keeneland's Doubledogdare (G3), one of three graded stakes at the Kentucky track this weekend.

Here's an early look at the likely fields for this weekend's graded stakes.

Friday

Doubledogdare (G3), Keeneland, 1 1/16 miles, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

This one also is expected to attract two female stars in Malathaat and Crazy Beautiful. Malathaat won three Grade 1s last year: the Ashland, Kentucky Oaks and Alabama before finishing third in the Breeders' Cup Distaff in her last start. Crazy Beautiful won three graded stakes last year and won her first race in four starts last out in the black-type Latonia at Turfway.

Saturday

Apple Blossom (G1), Oaklawn, 1 1/16 miles, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

This is the spot where Letruska turned heads last year when beating Monomoy Girl and Swiss Skydiver on her way to an Eclipse award. Ce Ce won the 2020 edition and was named champion sprinter for the year. In winning the Azeri (G2) last out, she bested Pauline's Pearl and Shedaresthedevil. Clairiere started in eight graded stakes last year and won two of them while never finishing worse than fourth. She started the year with a 6 1/2-length win in an allowance at Fair Grounds.

Oaklawn Handicap (G2), Oaklawn, 1 1/8 miles, 4-year-olds and up

The first- through fourth-place finishers in the Essex (G3) are expected here. Rated R Superstar bounced back from his fifth-place finish in the Razorback (G3) to came through late and beat Plainsman, who has been on the board in his last nine starts. Idol, winner of last year's Santa Anita Handicap, would make his first start of the year.

Elkhorn (G2), Keeneland, 1 1/2 miles (turf), 4-year-olds and up

Two Emmys scored last out in the Muniz Memorial (G2) for his first in four starts since last year's Mr. D. Stakes (G1) at Arlington. Cellist's seventh-place finish in the Tampa Bay Stakes (G3) was his first start since last September.

Ben Ali (G3), Keeneland, 1 1/8 miles, 4-year-olds and up

Scalding is 3-for-3 this year and won the Challenger (G3) last out by a neck over Cody's Wish. Mighty Heart put together a record of 8: 3-2-2 last year and would make his first start since a third-place finish in the Harlan's Holiday (G3) in December.