By Joe Bianca
Aside from the absence of champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) as she recovers from mild colic, one couldn't ask for much more in an early-season distaff race than will be seen in Sunday's GI Apple Blossom H. at Oaklawn, as three top-class fillies and mares head a strong six-horse group in the $750,000, 1 1/16-mile test.
Drawing the rail was Adele Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm's homebred 'TDN Rising Star' Elate (Medaglia d'Oro). The steadily-developing Bill Mott trainee broke through with a signature score when annexing the GI Alabama S. by 5 1/2 lengths two summers ago at Saratoga and followed that up with a dominant conquest of the GI Beldame S. After disappointing as the favorite in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff, she returned last July with a facile success in the GII Delaware H. and missed by a neck in a controversial non-DQ in the GI Personal Ensign S. Forced to miss a return try at the Breeders' Cup with a splint bone issue, she made her 5-year-old debut with a runner-up finish in the GII Azeri S. here Mar. 16.
Besting her that day and re-opposing here is Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables and Allen Racing's seven-time graded stakes winner Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute). Closing from well back to be third as the favorite in last spring's GI Kentucky Oaks after a score in the GI Santa Anita Oaks, the dark bay romped in the GII Mother Goose S. and, after two pedestrian outings at Saratoga, took down Monomoy Girl via disqualification in the GI Cotillion S. A good third in the Breeders' Cup Distaff after that, she kicked off her 4-year-old campaign with a tally in the GIII Houston Ladies Classic S. before taking down Elate on the square in the Azeri while clocking her final five sixteenths in under 30 seconds. The tactically-diverse filly draws outside in the Apple Blossom, giving rider Mike Smith plenty of options.
Gary Barber's 'Rising Star' Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d'Oro) tries to get back to holding her own with top-flight competition for the first time since running a good second at nearly 17-1 in the Kentucky Oaks. The Mark Casse pupil romped against males in the Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales S. last summer, but was well-beaten in both the Cotillion and Breeders' Cup Distaff. Returning in a local optional claimer Mar. 8, she made an early move and flattened late to be second at odds-on.
Escape Clause (Going Commando) adds some blue-collar flavor in her Grade I debut. Owned and trained by Don Schnell, the bay boasts 20 wins in 30 career starts and picked up her first graded success with a 5 1/2-length success in the GIII La Canada S. Jan. 12 at Santa Anita. Fourth in the GII Santa Monica S. after that, she rebounded with a comprehensive romp in the Harry Henson S. Mar. 24 at Sunland, setting a track record for a mile when stopping the timer in 1:34 flat.
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