Ce Ce in Great Shape Following Apple Blossom

Bo Hirsch's winner of the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1), Ce Ce, came out of the April 18 race in "great" shape physically, trainer Michael McCarthy told Oaklawn Park media April 19. The 4-year-old filly was scheduled to van back to Southern California on Sunday afternoon.

Ce Ce is unbeaten in three starts this year, including the March 14 Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park. McCarthy said the year-end goal for Ce Ce is the Nov. 7 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Keeneland. Getting there, McCarthy indicated after the Apple Blossom, is tricky because racing nationally has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We'll have to see what happens here," McCarthy said. "Obviously, it would be nice to go ahead and circle the Breeders' Cup. Hopefully, everything gets back to the new normal again."

Apple Blossom third-place finisher Point of Honor was scheduled to return Sunday to her South Florida base, trainer George Weaver said Sunday morning. She was beaten 2 1/4 lengths after breaking last and racing six wide on the second turn.

"She didn't break well and got sandwiched out of there," Weaver said. "She was a little farther back than she needed to be. It was a tough race. There were a bunch of good fillies in there. There were five grade 1 winners." 

The Apple Blossom undercard was highlighted by Whitmore's record third victory in the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) for older horses for co-owner/trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs, Ark.

Whitmore also won the Count Fleet in 2017 and 2018 and finished second in last year's race to eventual male sprint champion Mitole . 

"It was one of his best races ever, for sure," said Laura Moquett, Moquett's wife and assistant. "It was absolutely one of them."

Moquett said Whitmore came out of the Count Fleet "perfect" physically. 

Whitmore, also owned by Robert LaPenta and Sol Kumin's Head of Plains Partners, has seven stakes victories at Oaklawn—he has captured the Hot Springs Stakes a record four consecutive years—but Laura Moquett called the latest "more special" because her husband's horses are housed each winter and early spring in the Count Fleet barn.

"It's one of Ron's favorite races," she said. 

Ron Moquett said the goal for Whitmore is the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). Whitmore ran second in the 2018 Breeders' Cup Sprint and was third last year.