Come Dancing Works Toward Apple Blossom at Oaklawn

Millionaire grade 1 winner Come Dancing is targeting the $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) April 18 at Oaklawn Park for her 2020 debut, the mare's new trainer, Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, said March 31.

Previously with New York-based trainer Carlos Martin, Come Dancing arrived at Oaklawn about "10-12 days ago," Lukas said, and recorded her first published local work toward the Apple Blossom on a chilly, overcast Tuesday morning, breezing five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 under exercise rider Yoni Hernandez. The track was rated muddy.

"Beautiful," Lukas said after Come Dancing had cooled out. "We've had some good fillies in our time, but she impressed the hell out of me."

Lukas said COVID-19, which continues to force tracks across the country to suspend or cancel live racing and restrict human travel, played a part in landing his high-profile addition. The 1 1/16-mile Apple Blossom for older fillies and mares, Lukas said, was already on the "radar" of Come Dancing, a five-time stakes winner of $1,064,950 for Martin and owner Marc Holliday (Blue Devil Racing Stable), who also bred the 6-year-old daughter of Malibu Moon .

"I think they were agonizing whether to come or not," Lukas said, adding he knew Martin because of racing in New York. "Believe it or not, Dale Romans, who has trained for the same guy, him and Carlos got together, thinking what they could do because of the virus and the difficulty of sending just horses and not people. So, Dale said, 'Hell, send her to Wayne.' Carlos said, 'Do you think he'll take her?' He said, 'I know he will.'"

Aqueduct Racetrack, the New York Racing Association's winter/early spring venue, announced March 25 it was suspending live racing through at least April 5 due to COVID-19. Oaklawn, where Lukas annually winters, has raced without spectators since March 13 and has numerous virus-related guidelines in place to try and continue racing though its scheduled close, May 2.

"It's a difficult time, but we'll be all right," Lukas said.

Come Dancing hasn't started since finishing sixth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park, her only career race outside New York. Her 14-race résumé includes eight victories, highlighted by the Aug. 24 Ketel One Ballerina Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

"I knew her record," Lukas said. "You watch races. She won up there at Saratoga when I was there, but I never thought she would show up here at the barn. She's impressive."

Lukas won the Apple Blossom in 1983 with Miss Huntington, 1987 with North Sider, and 2004 with Azeri. Miss Huntington represented the first of Lukas' 322 career victories to date at the Hot Springs, Ark., track.