Go Google Yourself to skip Azeri and train up to Apple Blossom

Go Google Yourself is among 19 horses nominated to Saturday’s $350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2), but the multiple stakes winner is passing the race and pointing for Oaklawn’s biggest two-turn event for older fillies and mares, the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) April 18, trainer Paul McGee said.

Go Google Yourself is 2 for 2 at Oaklawn, including the $200,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) Feb. 17 in her 2020 debut. McGee said Friday morning that Go Google Yourself is at Fair Grounds, her winter base, but she will ship to Churchill Downs in “two to three weeks” to continue preparations for the 1 1/16-miles Apple Blossom, one of the country’s most prestigious two-turn races for older fillies and mares.

“I’ll ship her from Churchill to Oaklawn, probably just a couple of days out,” McGee said.

A homebred for Samantha Siegel, Go Google Yourself has a 7-5-3 record from 19 lifetime starts and earnings of $639,625. The 5-year-old daughter of super sire Into Mischief won an allowance race last year at Oaklawn before claiming the $125,000 Groupie Doll Stakes Aug. 11 at Ellis Park and the Locust Grove Stakes (G3) Sept. 14 at Churchill Downs. Go Google Yourself, in her final start last year, finished second to Mylady Curlin in the Falls City Stakes (G2) Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs.

“We’ve always kind of spaced her races out,” McGee said after Go Google Yourself’s neck victory over Whoa Nellie in the Bayakoa. “She’s always run well for us. The one and only time we wheeled her back on a two- or three-week layoff, she threw craps. So, ever since then, me and Samantha have said, ‘Let’s space her races out.’ "

The Azeri is the final major local prep for the Apple Blossom. Early probables for the 1 1/16-mile Azeri, according to the Oaklawn racing department, are Awe Emma for trainer Dallas Stewart, Lady Apple (Steve Asmussen), Mylady Curlin (Brad Cox), Serengeti Empress (Tom Amoss) and Street Band (Larry Jones).

Lady Apple, Serengeti Empress, Street Band and Mylady Curlin – all 4-year-olds – finished 1-2-3-4, respectively, in the $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic (G3) Jan. 26 at Sam Houston. They were separated by a length at the wire in the 1 1/16-mile race.

Lady Apple is unbeaten at Oaklawn (3 for 3), including last year’s $500,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3). Serengeti Empress won the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) last year at Churchill Downs. Street Band won the $1 million Cotillion Stakes (G1) last year at Parx. Whoa Nellie won the $100,000 Pippin Stakes Jan. 25 at Oaklawn in her 4-year-old and stakes debut.

Also on Saturday’s card is the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles and the $350,000 Essex Handicap (G3) for older horses at 1 1/16 miles. Post positions for the three races will be drawn Wednesday.