NEWS
Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta among
45 nominees to Apple Blossom
Posted: Friday, March 12, 2010 12:33 PM
Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra and undefeated two-time champion older female Zenyatta lead a list of 45 nominees to the Apple Blossom Invitational Stakes (G1) on April 9 at Oaklawn Park.
The Apple Blossom will carry a purse of $5-million if both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta start in the 1 1/8-mile race. The field also would be capped at ten horses, with a purse distribution of 50% ($2.5-million) to the winner, 20% ($1-million) to the runner-up, 10% ($500,000) to third, 6% ($300,000) to fourth, 4% ($200,000) to fifth, and 2% ($100,000) to the horses who finish sixth through tenth.
Grade 1 winners Careless Jewel, Funny Moon, Pure Clan, Stardom Bound, and Venezuelan champion Bambera (Ven) also joins Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta on the nomination list.
Bambera, Careless Jewel, Funny Moon, and Pure Clan have not raced this year. Bambera is preparing for her first start in North America.
Other nominees include Freedom Star, who won the Azeri Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn on March 6; Molly Pitcher Stakes (G2) winner Luna Vega; El Encino Stakes (G2) winner Pretty Unusual; La Canada Stakes (G2) winner Striking Dancer; and Sunshine Millions Distaff Stakes winner Sweet Repent.
If either Rachel Alexandra or Zenyatta withdraw from the Apple Blossom, the purse would revert to $500,000 and the ten-horse limitation would not apply. Rachel Alexandra finished second in her comeback race on Saturday in the New Orleans Ladies Stakes at Fair Grounds while Zenyatta captured the Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (G1) later that day in her six-year-old debut.
Oaklawn will issue invitations on March 24.
For a complete list of nominees, click here.
For past performances of all nominees, click here.
