Lady Apple Surges Late to Take Houston Ladies Classic
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Photo: Coady Photography
Lady Apple outruns Serengeti Empress to win the Houston Ladies Classic at Sam Houston Race Park
Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Serengeti Empress led from the gate of the $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic Stakes (G3) at Sam Houston Race Park Jan. 26, but she couldn't hold off the grinding effort of Phoenix Thoroughbreds and KatieRich Stables' Lady Apple.
From the rail, Ricardo Santana Jr. guided Lady Apple to a half-length win in the 1 1/16-mile race.
"Lady Apple had a very nice (season) last year, but I think … pedigree-wise, we expected her to be a better 4-year-old," trainer Steve Asmussen said. "And for her to beat the field today—Street Band, the Cotillion (G1) winner, and Serengeti Empress, the Oaks winner—just what a quality field that they've assembled here in Houston for the Ladies Classic, and (I am) so proud of the race she ran."
When the gates sprang open, Serengeti Empress exploded to the lead and set fractions of :23.40, :47.31, and 1:12.37 for the first six furlongs. Heading into the stretch, the 4-year-old Alternation filly trained by Tom Amoss threw down the gauntlet with Lady Apple to her inside and Mylady Curlin and Street Band pressing her from the outside.
Lady Apple had settled in third early, was shuffled to fourth at the six-furlong mark momentarily while saving ground at the rail, but then gave a strong drive to get to the front just in time. Street Band managed to get within a neck for third, with Mylady Curlin another neck behind. The four were 8 1/2 lengths in front of fifth-place Saracosa, and Out for a Spin completed the order.
"She was really comfortable in the position we were in," Santana said. "I was really happy with the way she was traveling. In the turn for home, I asked her and she gave me everything. She's an amazing filly, a fighting filly. I knew she would give me everything she had."
The Houston Ladies Classic marked the fourth graded stakes win for Lady Apple and her second consecutive graded score after she took the Remington Park Oaks (G3) Sept. 29. The 4-year-old Curlin filly won three consecutive races last year, culminating in the Fantasy Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park. She then finished third in the Kentucky Oaks and returned to win the Iowa Oaks (G3) at Prairie Meadows.
The future is bright for Lady Apple, whose trainer has set his sights on tougher targets.
"With Midnight Bisou starting her year out (in the Houston Ladies Classic) and ending up with an Eclipse Award, we will try to follow a similar plan and go to Oaklawn with her, most likely for the Bayakoa (G3)."
Bred by co-owner KatieRich, Lady Apple is out of the grade 2-placed Clever Trick mare Miss Mary Apples, who has produced two other stakes winners.