April 10, 2025
TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon
A Worthy Endeavour
Where’s My Ring isn’t just a question Chris Paul asks himself in the mirror, it’s also the name of the 4-year-old filly with the best chance to dethrone Thorpedo Anna in Saturday’s $1.25 million Apple Blossom (G1) at Oaklawn Park.
Opening at 5-2 behind the clear opening line favorite, and 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (2-5), Where’s My Ring remains leaps and bounds ahead of third choice Free Like a Girl, who enters at 10-1.
While it’s no secret that a victory from anyone not named Thorpedo Anna would be the upset of all upsets, Where’s My Ring, fresh off a striking 12 ¼-length win, is certainly riding high.
You Again?
A neck’s difference separated Be Your Best (IRE) and Sacred Wish when they last met in the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G2T) on Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park.
The pair will line up for round two with the top prize, and bragging rights, in Saturday’s $650,000 Jenny Wiley (G1T) up for grabs.
With Keeneland the stage, Be Your Best, who came out on top the first time, holds a slight advantage over Sacred Wish (8-1), entering at 6-1 on the opening line.
The winner of three straight graded tilts (Grade 3 Long Island, Grade 3 Suwannee River, and Pegasus) sports a 5-3-2 line across 18 starts.
Sacred Wish, on the other hand, is 4-7-3, also from 18 starts, and boasts what her contemporary does not: a Grade 1 trophy (Matriarch).
However, both contestants trail Excellent Truth (IRE) (5-2), Kehoe Beach (7-2), Choisya (GB) (4-1), and Jabaara (IRE) (9-2), early.
Count on Me
Boasting a record six wins, including three straight, trainer Steve Asmussen has owned the $500,000 Count Fleet (G3).
On Saturday afternoon, the Hall of Fame conditioner will deploy 4-year-old colt Booth in pursuit of number seven.
Going off as the undercard event on Oaklawn Park’s 11-race card, the six-furlong Count Fleet comes at an opportune time for Booth, who collected his first graded tally last time out in the Whitmore (G3) on Mar. 15.
The front-leading 2 ¼-length conquest marked the Erik Asmussen mount’s fifth score from nine career starts.
Booth enters with high expectations as the clear 3-5 favorite.
Last Call for Roses
The window to earn Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points will officially close with Saturday’s $400,000 Lexington (G3) at Keeneland.
While none of the nine horses entered are in the top 32 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, the 1 1/16-mile affair still carries plenty of intrigue for horseplayers.
Projected to be a closely contested battle between top choices Praetor (2-1), Gosger (7-2), and Bullard (9-2), the latter’s standout resume may be the deciding factor.
In just three starts, Bullard has collected two wins, highlighted by a 4 ¾-length Bob Hope (G3) score in November.
Gosger and Praetor will each be making their graded stakes debuts in the Lexington.
No Better Time than Now
Future Is Now is set to make her long-awaited return to racing this Sunday at a place near and dear to her heart.
Heading back to Keeneland for the first time since last October – the site of her Franklin (G2T) triumph – the 5-year-old mare looks to double down at the Lexington, Kentucky oval in the $350,000 Giant’s Causeway (G3T).
Slotted into post four for the 10-horse tilt, Future Is Now, despite the layoff, enters as the 9-5 clubhouse leader.
The Paco Lopez mount’s track record speaks for itself: four stakes wins, including two at the graded tier (Grade 3 Caress), and over $600,000 banked across 14 starts (7-1-1).
