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TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS
Champion GINGER PUNCH (Awesome Again) makes her much anticipated return to graded racing for trainer Bobby Frankel in the $500,000 Apple Blossom H. (G1) at Oaklawn on Saturday. The Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) queen returned in January with a facile 6 3/4-length victory in the Sunshine Millions Distaff and has been primed for this Grade 1 affair, so we can't see her losing in here. The chestnut mare has been a model of high-class consistency, compiling a 15-8-5-1 mark which includes a trio of Grade 1 conquers. The main competition for the mare are both late runners, and Ramon Dominguez should get a sizable jump on them turning for home. The superb ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]) has been nothing short of brilliant in three dominant scores for John Shirreffs, including a smart late finish in the El Encino S. (G2) in her latest venture. The long-striding four-year-old will relish the 8 1/2 furlongs in here as she'll have time to commence her late kick, and she could be closer to the early pace after the brief freshening. We'd choose this horse first in nearly any other scenario, but running into Ginger Punch on a surface that is foreign to her might be a bit too much to ask at this stage of her promising career. We'd love to see the filly run her best beneath Mike Smith. BROWNIE POINTS (Forest Wildcat) ran a very good second to a top mare in the Azeri S. (G3) last out and should challenge for another graded placing for Donnie Von Hemel. The chestnut lass has never missed the board in five tries over this oval and six efforts at this trip, so we'll use her to conclude the trifecta. Luis Quinonez will guide the five-year-old, who should be just off the early tempo. KETTLEONEUP (Victory Gallop) was a flat fourth in the Azeri, which snapped her three-race win streak last out for trainer Michael Tomlinson. The talented chestnut took the Pippin S. over this oval in her yearly debut and should certainly appreciate the extra distance in this one, so her chances at a minor award are well within reach. The five-year-old comes from well off the pace usually, and the lack of early gas signed on in here could hurt her chances for better. Calvin Borel will be in the irons. LEMON DROP MOM (Lemon Drop Kid) has been ambitiously placed in here following a non-threatening fifth in the Azeri, and we can't suggest her inclusion in this field. CLEVER STRIKE (Smart Strike), also trained by Von Hemel, has some early pace and might be in here to ensure a decent early tempo for her stablemate, but she appears to be a cut below the best in here.
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