4/18/26 Barn Notes

by Robert Yates

Next-race plans are pending for sparkling Apple Blossom Handicap winner Claret Beret, her Florida-based trainer, Saffie Joseph Jr., said Saturday morning.

Claret Beret received a Beyer Speed Figure of 105 – highest in the country this year for a female at a mile or over – for her 4 ½-length victory over champion Nitrogen in the 1 1/16-mile Apple Blossom, a $1.25 million Grade 1 event for older fillies and mares April 11 at Oaklawn.

“She’s back in Florida,” said Joseph, in Hot Springs to saddle White Abarrio in Saturday’s $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2). “She just had an easy week, just kind of walking under tack for the whole week. No plans yet. We’ll probably come up with a plan next week. I’ll be back next week. I’ve been at the (OBS) sales, so I want to go over her first and then come up with a plan.”

Joseph said next-race targets for Claret Beret are the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) June 5 at Saratoga and the Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) June 27 at Churchill Downs. Both races are 1 1/8 miles.

Claret Beret was exiting a five-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile Royal Delta Stakes (G3) Feb. 14 at Gulfstream Park. Claret Beret’s winning time in the Apple Blossom (1:42.21) was the fastest since eventual Horse of the Year Havre de Grace in 2011.

“We’re going to keep her at two turns, for sure,” Joseph said.

The Apple Blossom was a “Win and You’re In” for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) Oct. 31 at Keeneland. The Apple Blossom marked the first career Grade 1 victory for jockey Micah Husbands and a happy homecoming for Claret Beret, a 5-year-old daughter of white-hot stallion Not This Time who races for Myron Miller (Miller Racing).

Miller privately purchased Claret Beret following a fifth-place finish in a March 7, 2025, allowance race at Oaklawn. Trainer Greg Compton, on behalf of himself and owners Danny Brown and Charis Brenneman, had claimed Claret Beret for $62,500 out of an Oct. 10, 2024, victory at Keeneland. Compton won two allowance races with Claret Beret, including one in February 2025 at Oaklawn, before she was sold.

“I actually lost a shake on her, the race at Keeneland,” Joseph said. “One of my guys called the buyer and offered Greg quite a bit of money. Greg didn’t want to sell her then. We kind of just gave up on her, as far as buying her. And then Miller Racing, he kind of scouts his own horses, he called one day and said he could buy this filly.”

Joseph said he was still interested in Claret Beret, particularly because he had just won the 2025 Royal Delta with Dazzling Move, another daughter of Not This Time.

“Not This Time was really starting to take off,” Joseph said. “(Miller) paid quite a bit of money for her. But we felt like if we could get black type, or a stakes win, I don’t think anybody thought she was going to become this, that we thought the risk versus reward was there. Obviously, she’s turned into a really good horse.”

Claret Beret has a 7-1-3 record from 19 lifetime starts and earnings of $1,115,834.

Miller won the Azeri Stakes (G2) in 2016 at Oaklawn with Call Pat, who was trained by Brad Cox. Call Pat ran sixth in the 2016 Apple Blossom. The Azeri is Oaklawn’s final major prep for the Apple Blossom.

Finish Lines

Jockey Ramon Vazquez rode two winners Friday to pull into a 61-61 tie with Cristian Torres in the race for leading rider. Vazquez won the fifth race aboard Itzel ($7) for trainer Peter Miller and the ninth race aboard millionaire Stronghold ($3) for trainer Phil D’Amato. Stronghold, who was making his Oaklawn debut, won the 2024 Santa Anita Derby (G1). … Stronghold dead-heated with favored Bendoog ($2.60), who surpassed $1 million in career earnings for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, who co-owns the 7-year-old horse with prominent Arkansas businessman Frank Fletcher. .... Mott moved to 5-2-0 from eight starts at the 2025-2026 Oaklawn meeting with Bendoog’s victory. … Trainer Sarah Shaffer recorded her second career victory with favored Argan ($3.60) in Friday’s third race.