Piping Hot A crisp outing earned Claret Beret the sweet upset over heavily favoured Nitrogen (4-5) in Saturday’s $1.25 million Apple Blossom (G1) at Oaklawn Park. All eyes were on the latter, and rightfully so, ahead of the 1 1/16-mile main track tilt for fillies and mares 4-year-old’s and up. However, Nitrogen and her six graded stakes titles didn’t have an answer for Claret Beret, who took control at the stretch and pulled away with confidence for the 4 ½-length score. The first Grade 1 trophy of the Not This Time mare’s 19 start career (7-1-3) followed her maiden stakes win – the Grade 3 Royal Delta – last time out on February 14. At 8-1 Saturday, Claret Beret paid $19.60. Causing a Ruckus Mad House brought the roof down with a hard-nosed half-length tally in the $500,000 Count Fleet (G3), Saturday at Oaklawn Park. In good form following a successful season debut on March 6 at Tampa Bay Downs, the 4-year-old Vekoma gelding shot out of the gate with purpose in the six-furlong Count Fleet. A determined Mad House made setting the pace a priority and did everything in his power to prevent 2-1 choice Roll On Big Joe from disrupting that. The gritty victory elevated Mad House to 6-1-1 with just over $603,000 across 12 starts for James Thares, who purchased the chestnut for $47,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. At 9-1, he paid $20.20. Two-for-One Segesta and Expensive Queen each wanted the top spot in Saturday’s $650,000 Jenny Wiley (G1T) and both got their wish after reaching the wire at the exact same time (1:40.98). The dead-heat between the top two betting choices had the Keeneland faithful in a frenzy, as Expensive Queen rallied hard late to catch Segesta, who gained command at the stretch call. The shared score resulted in Segesta’s fourth career graded title and fifth win from 12 starts for breeder/owner Juddmonte, and the first at the level for Farfellow Farms’ Expensive Queen. As the 3-2 choice, Segesta paid $2.84, while Expensive Queen (5-2) paid $3.46. Ahead of the Curve Upset wins are back in fashion thanks to Trendsetter, who pulled off the surprise victory in Saturday’s $400,00 Lexington (G3) at 32-1. Back at Keeneland for the first time since a fifth in October’s Indian Summer Stakes, the sophomore son of Modernist–Suyapa exercised great patience before vaulting to the top of the nine-horse pack at the stretch and separating for the smooth 2 ¼-length triumph. After a trio of promising showings to begin the season, Trendsetter finally got over the hump to secure his first stakes success for owner Davant Latham of Midway Racing. Now up to 3-1-1 ($421,962) through eight starts, Trendsetter paid $66.68. Early Arrival There was no slowing In Our Time in the 29th running of the $400,000 Giant’s Causeway (G2T), Sunday at Keeneland. Out to avenge a difficult ninth-place result in her season debut – the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G2T) – In Our Time looked comfortable and full of conviction in a dazzling display of speed along the inside. The 5-year-old Not This Time mare is now a graded stakes winner for owners Resolute Racing and Miller Racing and sports a 5-6-2 line from 17 starts. At 5-1 on Sunday, she paid $12.88. Matthew Lomon, for Woodbine Share This:Share
