American Apple Tops Six-Horse Field in Soaring Softly

KatieRich Stables’ Kentucky homebred American Apple will look to notch her second career graded triumph in the $175,000 Soaring Softly Stakes (G3T), a seven-furlong Widener turf sprint for sophomore fillies May 27 at Belmont Park.

Trained by Daniel Leitch, American Apple enters from a game runner-up finish in the 5 1/2-furlong Mamzelle Overnight Stakes May 3 at Churchill Downs behind Danse Macabre .

“The winner had the best trip and we got caught six-wide,” Leitch said. “She came back from it really well.”

The daughter of American Pharoah provided her trainer with his first career graded stakes victory when taking the Matron Stakes (G3T) in October at Belmont at the Big A, earning the win over Redifined with a prominent trip under Eric Cancel.

That win led to a try in grade 1 company in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) in November at Keeneland where she finished sixth after holding a brief lead at the three-eighths call. She did not race again until finishing a closing fourth in the 5 1/2-furlong Limestone Stakes in April at Keeneland in her seasonal bow, while racing with blinkers off for the first time.

“I think she’s getting better and the break after the Breeders’ Cup was the best thing for her,” Leitch said. “She came back better and stronger and I think the five and a half furlongs may be a bit short. Six and a half and seven furlongs are probably her best races.”

Trainer Christophe Clement will saddle two in pursuit of his second win in this event as Love Appeals and Queen Picasso vie for their first career stakes win.

Moyglare Stud Farm’s Kentucky homebred Love Appeals arrives off of a last-out victory in a first-level allowance optional claimer sprinting six furlongs April 27 at Aqueduct Racetrack. The daughter of Speightstown ‘s other win was a debut maiden score going 7 1/2 furlongs in February at Gulfstream Park before a close fourth-place finish in the Sanibel Island Stakes over the same distance and course in April.

Siena Farm, Michael Kisber, Peter Deutsch, and The Elkstone Group’s Queen Picasso makes her first start against winners after a debut score going 1 1/16 miles over the Gulfstream turf in March.

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown also saddles two in maiden winners Lady Beth and Senior Prank .

Richard Schermerhorn’s Lady Beth has not raced since breaking her maiden at first asking in a Feb. 5 maiden special weight going one mile and 70 yards on the Gulfstream synthetic. Spendthrift Farm’s homebred Senior Prank is winless in two starts since an impressive debut win by a half-length in January over the Big A main track.

Completing the field is Marc Keller’s homebred maiden winner Quarrel , who has not raced since graduating at third asking in November at the Big A for conditioner Bobby Ribaudo.