What’s On Track: Oaklawn and Keeneland Play Host to a Slew of High Value Stakes

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon

R-E-L-A-X

A rather dry performance in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) last time out may have fans concerned about Wet Paint’s status heading into Saturday’s $1.25 million Apple Blossom (G1) at Oaklawn Park (G1). But as a former Green Bay Packers quarterback once said, “R-E-L-A-X.”

One poor outing shouldn’t distract from the 4-year-old filly’s immense body of work, which includes four stakes wins and nearly $1.2 million in total earnings. The Brad Cox trainee has flourished at the graded level, in particular, running to a 3-1-0 line in six tries.

The winner of last July’s American Oaks (G1) enters the Apple Blossom at 3-1.

Wanna See me do it Again?

Not to be confused with one half of Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s iconic bumbling detective duo Norm Scully, Skelly heads into Saturday’s $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn with the intention of starting another formidable winning streak.

The 5-year-old gelding put together seven straight wins before a second last time out in Saudi Arabia. During the impressive run, Skelly collected three stakes wins, including last year’s running of the Count Fleet at 6-1.

Under the guidance of rider Ricardo Santana Jr., the Oaklawn Park regular owns a lifetime record of 8-4-0 through 13 starts.

Three’s Company

After running 1-2-3 in last December’s Matriarch (G1), the stablemate trio of Surge Capacity, Fluffy Socks, and Beaute Cachee (FR) are set to meet once again in Saturday’s $600,000 Jenny Wiley (G1T) at Keeneland.

Varying in age and experience, the dynamic group of bunkmates is led by the youngest of the bunch, Surge Capacity (5-1). The 4-year-old filly is a sensational 4-0-1 with three graded titles through five career starts. Her fellow Chad Brown pupil Fluffy Socks (6-1) also has three graded trophies to her name, albeit in 17 attempts at the level.

Rounding out the big three is Beaute Cachee (15-1), who only recently joined the North American circuit. The 5-year-old mare owns a modest 3-5-2 line through 17 lifetime starts but has performed admirably since debuting last May (5: 2-2-1 record).

Who Wants Four?

Heading into Saturday’s $400,000 Lexington (G3) with three victories a piece, opening line favorites The Wine Steward (5-2) and Hades (7-2) will most likely need to go through each other to secure win number four.

Making his first appearance at the graded level in last October’s Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1), The Wine Steward ceded the top prize to 3-5 choice Locked by a slight half-length margin. The effort was notable nonetheless as the 3-year-old colt looked the part of a horse ready to compete on the big stage.

Hades, on the other hand, is coming off a disappointing fifth in last month’s Florida Derby (G1). Closing at 3-1, the Joseph Orseno charge couldn’t muster any momentum and ultimately faded from contention in the early goings. Making matters tougher is the short turnaround for Hades, as the Florida Derby ran on Mar. 30.

The leading duo heads to Keeneland with Kentucky Derby qualifying points also up for grabs.

Don’t be Shy with the Intrigue

The third entry on Keeneland’s sizzling Saturday of stakes, the $300,000 Giant’s Causeway (G3T), features two competitors who are anything but short on intrigue.

First is Play the Music, a 4-year-old filly who will be making her graded debut this upcoming weekend following a successful run against lesser competition. In those 10 contests, the Mark Casse protégé went 4-1-3, highlighted by a Leinster Lightning City Stakes score last out on Feb. 24.

She faces stiff competition from another 4-year-old filly in Love Reigns (IRE), who if patterns persist, will achieve her first career graded conquest. Sporting an alternating win-loss record through six starts, the Joel Rosario pilot flopped to seventh in her most recent appearance despite closing as the 1.10 choice (Galway Stakes).

The former enters at 5-1, and the latter at 8-1.