After solid efforts from the first three under the wire in the March 7 Azeri Stakes (G2), those fillies and mares meet again in the April 11 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park.
Majestic Oops, the gritty 9-1 upset winner of the 1 1/16-mile Azeri, rallied wide to win by three-quarters of a length over the fast-closing Regaled, who was making up serious ground on the rail. Nitrogen, last year's champion 3-year-old filly and impressive off the bench to win the Feb. 7 Bakayoa Stakes (G3), finished 1 length behind Regaled in third, after owning a short lead in the stretch.
Those three, plus six others, are entered in the $1.25 million Apple Blossom, which for the first time is designated as a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series event, offering the winner an automatic berth to the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Keeneland.
The Dan Ward-trained Majestic Oops, owned by Medallion Racing, Evan Trommer, Sheila Regan, Agave Racing Stable, and Sublime Racing, also won this year's 6-furlong American Beauty Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Overall, the California-bred owns a record of 4-2-0 in 8 starts at the Hot Springs track. The 6-year-old daughter of Majestic Harbor is on the cusp of becoming a millionaire with current earnings of $952,309.
Ward told BloodHorse April 7 that Franciso Arrieta, who has guided the mare to victory in each of the three races they've been partnered, including her most recent two starts, is a perfect match for Majestic Oops.
"I have confidence when Arrieta rides her; he knows exactly how to ride her, not to push in the first part. He gets her to settle and finish.
"They're very good horses (in the field)," added Ward, who is looking for the first grade 1 win of his training career. Nitrogen is a very good horse; Regaled is a very good horse. They're tough and we respect them, but this race has come up with a little more speed than the last one. I think that helps us."
Majestic Oops, the third choice at 9-2, will exit from post 2 in the 1 1/16-mile Apple Blossom.
D. J. Stable's homebred Nitrogen is the 9-5 favorite. In track notes from Oaklawn's publicity department in March, her trainer, Mark Casse, reflected on the Azeri loss, and commented, "Jose (Ortiz) said he thought she was much more tired this race than the (Bayakoa), which, really, from a fitness standpoint, it doesn't make sense, right? We always thought she would need the first one. She's a big filly and the track was a little funny. Maybe she was just tired."
Since the Azeri defeat, Nitrogen has produced two sharp works, a 5-furlong move in 1:01, the third fastest of 11 at the distance April 1, and 4 furlongs in :46 4/5, second fastest of 66, March 22.
Jose Ortiz has the return call from post 1.
Casse also entered the graded stakes-placed Nerazurri, a multiple black-type winner, who finished second to Nitrogen in the Bayakoa Stakes and returned to win her next start in the Trivista Overnight Stakes.
Regaled, the second choice at 3-1, drew post 3 and will be ridden again by Joseph Ramos. The Whit Beckman-trained mare would definitely benefit from a lively pace which, at least on paper, could be delivered by Dazzling Move, (blinkers on, post 4), Five G (post 7), and Blue Fire (post 9).
Completing the field is Claret Beret, who stepped up in her most recent start to earn her first graded victory, the Royal Delta Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park, and California shipper Om N Joy, a grade 1-placed performer.
Oaklawn Park, Saturday, April 11, 2026, Race 10Entries: Apple Blossom H. (G1)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Nitrogen (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 122 Mark E. Casse 9/5 2 2Majestic Oops (CA) Francisco Arrieta 121 Dan Ward 9/2 3 3Regaled (KY) Joseph D. Ramos 119 D. Whitworth Beckman 3/1 4 4Dazzling Move (ON) Edwin Gonzalez 116 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 15/1 5 5Om N Joy (CA) Kent J. Desormeaux 118 Aggie Ordonez 15/1 6 6Nerazurri (KY) Cristian A. Torres 120 Mark E. Casse 6/1 7 7Five G (NY) John R. Velazquez 119 George Weaver 10/1 8 8Claret Beret (KY) Micah J. Husbands 120 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 8/1 9 9Blue Fire (LA) Florent Geroux 116 Steven M. Asmussen 15/1
