Track: Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas
Race: Apple Blossom Handicap (Grade I) – Race 10
Scheduled post time: 5:47 p.m. CT
Distance / surface: 1 1/16 miles, dirt
Purse: $1,250,000 • Age/Sex: Fillies & mares, 4‑years‑old and up
Venue, weather, and track conditions
Venue location: Oaklawn Park sits in Hot Springs, Arkansas, a tight, speed‑honest dirt oval that rewards
tactical position and sustained finish.
Expected weather: The Oaklawn advance notes “looks like the rain’s going to hold off,” suggesting a dry afternoon. Seasonally, mid‑April in Hot Springs typically runs in the mid‑60s to low‑70s°F, with light breeze and moderate humidity. Under that scenario, the main track is expected to be Fast barring late showers.
Field overview
Nine graded‑stakes winners line up; post positions match program numbers. Morning‑line odds from Oaklawn:
Nitrogen – 9‑5
Majestic Oops – 9‑2
Regaled – 3‑1
Dazzling Move – 15‑1
Om N Joy – 15‑1
Nerazurri – 6‑1
Five G – 10‑1
Claret Beret – 8‑1
Blue Fire – 15‑1
Recent finishes (last start):
Nitrogen – 3rd, Azeri (G2), 112 rating
Majestic Oops – 1st, Azeri (G2), 115
Regaled – 2nd, Azeri (G2), 114
Dazzling Move – 5th, Inside Information (G2), 122
Om N Joy – 3rd, Beholder Mile (G1), 103
Nerazurri – 1st, Trivista Overnight, 111
Five G – 1st, GP AOC, 121
Claret Beret – 1st, Royal Delta (G3), 115
Blue Fire – 1st, Shantel Lanerie Memorial S., 109
Horse‑by‑horse analysis
PP 1 – Nitrogen (9‑5 ML)
Jockey: Jose L. Ortiz • Trainer: Mark E. Casse
Analysis: Reigning champion 3‑year‑old filly of 2025 and Alabama (G1) winner, she returns after a tiring third over a heavy, sloppy track in the Azeri—Casse specifically blamed the surface and has tightened the screws with sharp works since. From the rail with Ortiz, she projects to sit close to the pace and is clearly the class of the field if the track is genuinely fast.
PP 2 – Majestic Oops (9‑2 ML)
Jockey: Francisco Arrieta • Trainer: Dan Ward
Analysis: Fresh off a strong Azeri (G2) win at this trip and track, handling a sloppy surface with authority. She has tactical speed and proved she can see out 1 1/16 miles; if she repeats that effort on a fast track, she’s a major win threat and the most obvious alternative to Nitrogen.
PP 3 – Regaled (3‑1 ML)
Jockey: Joseph D. Ramos • Trainer: D. Whitworth Beckman
Analysis: Ran a big second in the Azeri, splitting Majestic Oops and Nitrogen, earning a 114 figure. She’s a tough, consistent mare who can stalk or sit mid‑pack; if the top two regress even slightly, Regaled has the profile to pick up the pieces late.
PP 4 – Dazzling Move (15‑1 ML)
Jockey: Edwin Gonzalez • Trainer: Saffie A. Joseph Jr.
Analysis: Comes in off a fifth in the Inside Information (G2) at Gulfstream, but that was a sharp sprint against top company. Stretching back out, she’ll need to prove she can sustain her run around two turns at this level. A price horse who needs a career‑best to win but could spice up exotics if she moves forward on the stretch‑out.
PP 5 – Om N Joy (15‑1 ML)
Jockey: Kent J. Desormeaux • Trainer: Aggie Ordonez
Analysis: Third in the Beholder Mile (G1) last out, she’s been keeping very tough company in California. Desormeaux’s patient style fits her late‑running profile; if the pace gets hotter than expected, she’s a sneaky late‑running exotics candidate.
PP 6 – Nerazurri (6‑1 ML)
Jockey: Cristian A. Torres • Trainer: Mark E. Casse
Analysis: A progressive Protonico filly who just won the Trivista Overnight with a 111 figure and now steps into Grade 1 company. She has tactical speed and is drawn to track the main pace from mid‑gate; as Casse’s “other” filly, she’s a live upset possibility if Nitrogen doesn’t fire her absolute best.
PP 7 – Five G (10‑1 ML)
Jockey: John R. Velazquez • Trainer: George Weaver
Analysis: Comes in off a big Gulfstream allowance win (121 rating) and now takes a class hike into Grade 1 company. Velazquez is a major plus, and her tactical style should give her every chance to work a trip. She’s lightly raced enough to still have upside—interesting value if she handles Oaklawn’s dirt.
PP 8 – Claret Beret (8‑1 ML)
Jockey: Micah Husbands • Trainer: Saffie A. Joseph Jr.
Analysis: Royal Delta (G3) winner last out with a 115 figure, she’s already proven at the distance and in graded company. Joseph ships with intent, and her stalking style fits this race shape. She’s a legitimate win candidate at a mid‑range price.
PP 9 – Blue Fire (15‑1 ML)
Jockey: Florent Geroux • Trainer: Steven M. Asmussen
Analysis: Enters off a stakes win in the Shantel Lanerie Memorial with a 109 figure and now faces the deepest field of her career. Asmussen and Geroux are a high‑quality combo, but she’ll need another step forward to match the Azeri trio and Nitrogen. A fringe upset type and more appealing underneath in trifectas and supers.
Pace and race shape
Likely pace: Majestic Oops (2), Nerazurri (6), Five G (7), possibly Nitrogen (1) if Ortiz is aggressive.
Stalkers: Regaled (3), Claret Beret (8), Blue Fire (9).
Closers: Om N Joy (5), Dazzling Move (4).
A solid but not suicidal pace is likely. That should favor tactical stalkers with class—notably Nitrogen, Majestic Oops, Regaled, and Claret Beret—while still leaving a window for a closer like Om N Joy if the leaders overdo it.
Projected outcome
Nitrogen (PP1) – Proven Grade 1 class, better surface, sharper works.
Majestic Oops (PP2) – Azeri winner, perfect local prep, tactical speed.
Regaled (PP3) – Reliable, fits the race shape, always in the fight.
Claret Beret (PP8) – Improving graded winner with the right running style.
