Reigning Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna eyes her second victory of 2025 in Saturday’s featured $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park. It’s part of a program that includes the Grade 3 $500,000 Count Sprint Fleet Handicap. The Apple Blossom’s steep history includes legendary winners Zenyatta, Azeri, Paseana, Bayakoa, Bold ‘n Determined and Susan’s Girl.

Let’s meet the contenders for the Apple Blossom (Race 11):

#1-SWEET ALYSSA: Evangeline Downs stakes winner has finished out of the money in 6 straight starts and will huge price after a couple of poor turf allowance tries. Ricardo Santana rides the daughter of Belmont winner Union Rags for new trainer Chasey Pomier, who seeks her first win of the Oaklawn meet. Santana won the 2018 Apple Blossom aboard Unbridled Mo. Uncoupled stablemate to Pomier’s more accomplished Free Like a Girl.

#2-NEOM BEACH: Seeks a bounce-back effort after off-the-board finishes in the Pippin and Travista Stakes already this Oaklawn season. Stakes-placed on dirt and turf, including several placings over the local surface. Trainer Steve Asmussen – who won the Apple Blossom with Untapable (2015), Midnight Bisou (2019) and Clairiere (2023) – turns the reins over to his son, Erik. A fourth Apple Blossom win would tie Bill Mott’s race record. This is a daughter of Arkansas Derby winner Omaha Beach.

#3-FREE LIKE A GIRL: 6-year-old Louisiana-bred mare has been a win machine, getting her picture taken 21 times from 59 starts and earning more than $2.2 million. Not bad for a $5,500 auction buy in 2020. Her sire is El Deal, and appropriate for what a good deal she’s been. Second-place efforts in the Grade 3 Bayakoa and Grade 2 Azeri this meeting on the Apple Blossom path. Free Like a Girl was third to Adare Manor in last year’s edition of this race. Julien Leparoux gets the return call for trainer Chasey Pomier.

#4-NOBLE MISS: Claimed for $7,500 in 2023, this longshot takes a seemingly impossible bite in the Apple Blossom. She’s been away since March 2024 and training in New Mexico with Danny Hernandez. Oliver Castillo rides the 7-year-old mare who has never left her home state, never attempted a stakes and competed for a claiming tag more than half her career.

#5-WHERE’S MY RING: Clear-cut second choice in the morning line at 5-2, last year’s Grade 3 Gazelle winner got back to her winning ways with a 12-1/4 Oaklawn allowance win on March 15. She’s back 4 weeks later looking to replicate a career-high speed figure while stepping up in class. She was far-beaten in last year’s Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks and Acorn, needing to make up about 20 lengths on Thorpedo Anna from those efforts. Francisco Arrieta rides her back for trainer Val Brinkerhoff.

#6-THORPEDO ANNA: A head shy of 7 straight wins, the Apple Blossom Handicap highweight carries 124 pounds – giving 5 to 12 pounds to her opposition. She carried 126 to victory in the Grade 1 Cotillion over this same 1-1/16 miles distance at Parx last year. Her two visits to Hot Springs have netted victories in the 2024 Grade 2 Fantasy and most recently the March 8 Grade 2 Azeri. Brian Hernandez Jr. has the assignment to keep the train rolling for Kenny McPeek and the $4 million-plus earner.

#7-WILD BOUT HILARY: Speedster should challenge Thorpedo Anna early off back-to-back wins in the Pago Hop at Fair Grounds and the Grade 3 Bayakoa at Oaklawn in February. Midnight Lute filly ed every step of those recent victories. She’s fresh and gets a 6-pound weight break to the favorite while facing Thorpedo Anna for the first time. All-or-nothing sort has 6 wins from 13 starts. Tanner Tracy gives the riding assignment to Ramon Vazqeuz for the first time.