Miller Racing's Claret Beret (Not This Time) hit the front at the top of the Oaklawn Park stretch and refused to be pulled back by a charging Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) to win the GI Apple Blossom Stakes, a 'Win and You're In' for this year's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland.
The now 5-year-old mare has shown a remarkable uptick in form since being claimed by Saffie Joseph Jr. just about one year. Since winning her first start for him at Gulfstream, a $70,000 handicap race by 19 3/4 lengths, she's competed in seven straight stakes races. Campaigned in Florida through the winter, she shipped to Oaklawn off a five-length win in the GIII Royal Delta Stakes Feb. 14. The Apple Blossom marked her second attempt at Grade I-company as she previously ran a well-beaten sixth in last year's GI Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 23.
Caught wide into the first turn from gate nine, Saturday's 8-1 shot was able to settle three paths off the rail in third as longshot Blue Fire (Aurelius Maximus) cleared down from the far outside to put up the fractions. Last year's Eclipse-winning 3-year-old filly Nitrogen stayed covered up in that leader's wake from fourth as the field stayed tightly bunched up the backstretch.
Swung out to make a move on the leaders as the half went in :46.87, Claret Beret hustled three-wide in a bid that was tracked immediately by Jose Ortiz aboard the 4-5 race favorite. But the daughter of Not This Time had gotten the first jump and got clear, leaving Nitrogen to try and chase her home in vain. The front two opened up a gap back to Majestic Oops (Majestic Harbor) in third but Claret Beret was never in any danger of being caught as she rolled home to her first Grade I win.
The Apple Blossom was also the first Grade I win for jockey Micah Husbands who began his riding career in Canada before earning his first win in the United States in 2024.
“I was loaded by the three-eighths (pole),” said Husbands. “I was just trying to be as patient (as possible) and not move too early. I was just loaded the whole way. When I asked her down the lane, she just finished it off. This has always been my dream, to ride in these kind of races and I'm just thankful to be living in the dream.”
Pedigree Note:
Taylor Made's Not This Time continues his rise to the top, earning his 13th Grade I winner. First dam Bessie M, a stakes-winning daughter of Medallist who banked over $218,000 in her racing career, has three winners from four to race including another stakes-placed daughter in Benedict Canyon (Midnight Lute).
She last went through the ring at the 2015 Keeneland November Sale, selling for $42,000 to Old Friends Stable. Claret Beret is her last reported foal.
CLARET BERET ($19.60) turned them all away in the $1,250,000 Apple Blossom (G1) at @OaklawnRacing. The 5YO mare by Not This Time (@TMStallions) scores a #WAYI to the @BreedersCup Distaff for trainer @SaffieJosephJr. Micah Husbands had the call.
Nice pick by @ashley_mailloux! pic.twitter.com/VI12kblblg
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 11, 2026
Saturday, Oaklawn
APPLE BLOSSOM H.-GI, $1,250,000, Oaklawn, 4-11, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:42.21, ft.
1–CLARET BERET, 120, m, 5, by Not This Time
1st Dam: Bessie M (SW, $218,282), by Medallist
2nd Dam: Catalita, by Mountain Cat
3rd Dam: Carmelita, by Mogambo
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($85,000 Ylg '22 KEEJAN; $375,000 Ylg
'22 KEESEP). O-Miller Racing LLC; B-Mitch Haynes (KY);
T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.; J-Micah J. Husbands. $675,000.
Lifetime Record: 19-7-1-3, $1,115,834. *1/2 to Benedict
Canyon (Midnight Lute), SP, $174,145. Werk Nick Rating:
B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Nitrogen, 122, f, 4, by Medaglia d'Oro
1st Dam: Tiffany Case (SP), by Uncle Mo
2nd Dam: Biblical Point, by Point Given
3rd Dam: Bibical Sense, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
O/B-D. J. Stable, LLC (KY); T-Mark E. Casse. $225,000.
3–Majestic Oops, 121, m, 6, by Majestic Harbor
1st Dam: Miss Oops, by Olmodavor
2nd Dam: Blue Begonia, by Seeking the Gold
3rd Dam: Icy Time, by Icecapade
O-Medallion Racing, Evan Trommer, Sheila Regan, Agave
Racing Stable and Sublime Racing; B-William Dory, Sandy
Dory, Gary Kropp & Janet Kropp (CA); T-Dan Ward.
$112,500.
Margins: 4HF, 3 3/4, 1. Odds: 8.80, 0.80, 7.00.
Also Ran: Regaled, Om N Joy, Nerazurri, Blue Fire, Five G, Dazzling Move.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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