NEWS
Apple Blossom Handicap preview: Beautiful Pleasure makes seasonal debut
Posted: Saturday, April 08, 2000
Last year's Eclipse Award-winning older filly or mare Beautiful Pleasure returns for the first time since her victory in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) last November when she contests the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park on Sunday.
Owned by John C. Oxley and trained by John T. Ward Jr., Beautiful Pleasure has been assigned highweight of 121 pounds. During her championship season last year, she won four-of-seven starts, including the Beldame Stakes (G1) and Personal Ensign Handicap (G1).
Among the six challengers she will face in the 1 1/16-mile Apple Blossom is millionaire Heritage of Gold, winner of the Oaklawn Breeders' Cup Stakes (G3) in her last start on March 19. Trained by Tom Amoss for owner Jack Garey, Heritage of Gold finished third in last year's Breeders' Cup Distaff.
Also entered is Really Polish, who won this year's Pippin Stakes at Oaklawn Park in her last outing on February 27. The Team Valor-owned five-year-old Polish Numbers mare finished third in the 1998 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs. She is trained by Joseph Petalino.
The field, in post-position order, with jockeys and weights:
1. Bordelaise (Arg), Calvin Borel, 113;
2. Heritage of Gold, Shane Sellers, 118;
3. Beautiful Pleasure, Jorge Chavez, 121;
4. Really Polish, Marlon St. Julien, 112;
5. Undermine, Larry Melancon, 116;
6. Lu Ravi, Garrett Gomez, 113; and
7. Runaway Venus, Carlos Gonzalez, 111.
