NEWS
Ermine rallies past Take D’ Tour to win Apple Blossom Handicap
Posted: Saturday, April 07, 2007 8:13 PM
ERMINE
Jeff Coady/Coady Photography
by Ron Parker
Oxbow Racing’s Ermine finally got her Grade 1 victory on Saturday as she charged from off the pace to collar Grade 1-winning pacesetter Take D’ Tour and edged clear for a 1 1/4-length victory in the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park.
Take D’ Tour battled for much of the 1 1/16-mile contest with 43.60-to-1 longshot River Savage (Brz). Ermine was in traffic early before settling into sixth under jockey Eddie Castro while looking for room.
On the turn, Castro eased Ermine out and the four-year-old Exchange Rate filly charged down the lane from four wide to take the measure of Take D’ Tour, who dispatched River Savage.
Ermine completed the distance in 1:44.02 on the fast track.
Take D’ Tour was 4 1/4 lengths clear of last year’s Emirates Airlines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) winner Round Pond, who was sent off as the 1.30-to-1 favorite.
Ermine entered the Apple Blossom after a half-length loss to Balance in the Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (G1) at Santa Anita Park, her third second-place finish in four Grade 1 stakes attempts.
Prior to the Santa Margarita, she was second to Sugar Shake in the Santa Maria Handicap (G1) and finished second to Lemons Forever in the 2006 Kentucky Oaks (G1).
Ermine, who won last year’s Falls City Handicap (G2), improved to five wins and five seconds from 13 starts with purse earnings of $851,082. She is out of the Thirty Six Red mare Red Mischief.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Ron Parker is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer
