Apropos’ triumph expected

Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. celebrates Saturday after winning the American Beauty Stakes with Apropos at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs.
Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. celebrates Saturday after winning the American Beauty Stakes with Apropos at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs.

HOT SPRINGS - Heavily favored Apropos scored an easy victory in the $100,000 American Beauty Stakes for older filly and mare sprinters Saturday afternoon in front of 10,145 fans at Oaklawn Park.

Apropos, who was ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., beat Boss Barney’s Babe by 3¼ lengths to remain unbeaten in three lifetime starts at Oaklawn.

“She had too much class,” Santana said.

Boss Barney’s Babe finished a neck ahead of Ms Anna Destiny, who was followed, in order, by Hurricane Girl, Dreamin Big, Lady Diva Ga Ga, American Sugar, Beat the Blues and Twitter Pie.

B eat the Blues, the 5-2 second choice, broke through the gate before the start, but was immediately caught by an assistant starter. Hurricane Girl held the lead until midstretch for owner/trainer Jack Frost of Marianna.

All About Allie, Bryan’s Jewel, Chortle, Livi Makenzie and Soft Whisper, as expected, were scratched in favor of an allowance race today.

Apropos, the 6-5 favorite, paid $4.40, $3.40 and $3. Boss Barney’s Babe paid $6.20 and $3.60. Ms Anna Destiny paid $4.40.

The winning time for 6 furlongs over a fast track on a 63-degree day was 1:11.43.

Apropos broke sharply from post 2 under Santana - Oaklawn’s leading rider in 2013 - and tracked Hurricane Girl on the inside through an opening quarter of :23.04.

Santana decided against saving ground and lost a position after steering Apropos outside Hurricane Girl on the turn.

Apropos made a three-wide bid turning for home, collared Hurricane Girl on the outside approaching the eighth pole and pulled away under strong right-handed urging.

Santana lost his whip putting it away about 40 yards from the finish.

“She’s a nice filly,” Santana said.

The American Beauty represented the fifth victory in nine lifetime starts for Apropos, a 5-year-old First Samurai mare who races for her breeders, Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, and trainer Al Stall.

The same connections campaigned 2010 champion older male Blame, the only horse to defeat Zenyatta.

The American Beauty was also the first stakes victory for Apropos, who has $220,433 in career earnings.

Her best racing has come in Hot Springs. Apropos was a 101/4-length entry-level allowance winner at last year’s Oaklawn meeting and prepped for the American Beauty with a 13/4-length third-level allowance victory Jan. 12.

Apropos remained at Oaklawn after the allowance victory under the care of trainer Karyn Wittek because Stall is based at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.

“Al just had me gallop her, just like she would normally if she was at the Fair Grounds,” Wittek said. “It will be very exciting to talk to him and his assistants.”

Oaklawn’s sprint stakes series for older fillies and mares continues with the $100,000 Spring Fever on Feb. 22.

Sports, Pages 21 on 01/26/2014

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