KatieRich Stables’ homebred American Apple stunned her 10 rivals at 47-1 with a well-timed off-the-pace victory to provide trainer Daniel Leitch his first stakes win in the Oct. 8 $150,000 Matron Stakes (G3T) at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet.
A 2-year-old daughter of American Pharoah , American Apple made her first start against winners after scoring a nose victory last out in a Sept. 14 maiden special weight sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs at Kentucky Downs. There, she stalked in third and unleashed her run down the stretch to nab the victory at the wire. She delivered a similar performance in the Matron under patient handling by Eric Cancel to rally from 1 1/2 lengths off the pace and secure the neck victory over the late-closing Redifined .
“I brought her up Wednesday, and it seemed like she shipped up fine,” said Leitch, who is based at Keeneland. “We took her to the track on Friday, and she was feeling good. It seemed like she shipped up fine and we figured she would run big today. She had been eating up and doing everything right since we got here.”
American Apple and her connections in the winner’s circle
American Apple, away well from post 3, sat comfortably as Fleetfooted rushed up to lead the field through an opening quarter-mile in :22.55 over the good turf. Sweet Harmony held second position while Redifined awaited her cue from jockey Javier Castellano in ninth.
Approaching the turn, American Apple made her bid towards the dueling pair of Fleetfooted and Sweet Harmony while post-time favorite Danse Macabre shifted out a path along the rail to try and find racing room around American Apple. After the half-mile in :46.06, American Apple drifted out a bit from the rail and brushed with Sweet Harmony, leaving Danse Macabre behind to fight for show honors. With a stubborn Fleetfooted tiring and American Apple overtaking the lead in mid-stretch, Redifined closed furiously down the center of the racetrack under right-handed urging from Castellano, but could not catch a game American Apple.
American Apple ($97) ran the six furlongs on a firm turf course in 1:09.59.
It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Danse Macabre in third with Dontlookbackatall rounding out the superfecta.
Larry Doyle of KatieRich Stables said the risk of running American Apple in a tough spot paid off.
“We didn’t think we were (such a longshot), but we thought there were seven speed horses in there,” said Doyle. “We knew what we had and it was going to be a tough race. We were only here because there was nowhere else to run. If there were an easier spot, that’s where we would have been.”
Doyle added that American Apple could contest the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint (G1T) on Nov. 4 at Keeneland, but could also look at the $120,000 Stewart Manor Stakes on Nov. 5 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
American Apple, produced from the Clever Trick mare Miss Mary Apples, is a half sister to three stakes winners, including millionaire and four-time graded stakes victress Lady Apple.
Video: Matron S. (G3T)
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
