Claret Beret earned grade 1 glory April 11 in the $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park, upsetting last year's champion 3-year-old filly Nitrogen.
Under jockey Micah Husbands, Claret Beret settled in third off the leader Blue Fire, who posted fractions of :23.70, :46.87, and 1:10.86. She traveled well in hand down the backstretch and as the field rounded the far turn she confidently moved to the front. By midstretch, she was 3 1/2 lengths in front of her competition, and easily held off a bid from Nitrogen.
The 5-year-old mare scored by 4 1/2 lengths on the wire to earn her first grade 1 victory. Heavy favorite Nitrogen, a homebred for D. J. Stable trained by Mark Casse, had to settle for second after rallying in the stretch. Dan Wards' Majestic Oops was third.
"I was loaded by the three-eighths (pole). I was just trying to be as patient (as possible) and not move too early," Husbands said. "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."
With the win, Husbands earned his first grade 1 victory. He'd won his first graded stakes earlier this year with Claret Beret in the Royal Delta Stakes (G3), and has since notched grade 3 wins with R Disaster and Skippylongstocking. The nephew of eight-time Sovereign Award-winning jockey Patrick Husbands moved his tack from Canada to the United States in September 2024.
Owned by Miller Racing and trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Claret Beret finished the 1 1/16 miles in a final time of 1:42.21. She paid $19.60 for the win. The daughter of Not This Time made it two wins in a row, having won the Feb. 14 Royal Delta at Gulfstream Park. Her only previous try in grade 1 company came at Saratoga Race Course last year in the 7-furlong Ballerina Stakes (G1), where she was sixth.
"Just really proud of her. I thought Micah (Husbands) gave her a really good ride, too, so I'm very proud of him, also," Joseph said.
Nitrogen settled in a comfortable spot in fourth under jockey Jose Ortiz and tracked the leader. Around the far turn, she was given her cue and as they hit the stretch she made her move on the grandstand side. She was ridden hard, but unable to catch the winner while a clear second. The Apple Blossom was her second loss in a row after finishing a shocking third in the Azeri Stakes (G2) March 7. She began her 4-year-old season with a win in the Bayakoa Stakes (G3).
The second choice in the betting pools, Regaled, finished fourth in her second start of the year after running second in the Azeri, which was won by Majestic Oops. Regaled raced at the back of the pack throughout the race and rallied past tiring rivals in deep stretch.
As a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In event, the Apple Blossom awarded the winner an automatic, fees-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). The Breeders' Cup will be held Oct. 30-31 at Keeneland.
Claret Beret is the second grade 1 winner of the year for current leading sire Not This Time, who stands for a $250,000 fee at Taylor Made Stallions in Kentucky. Not This Time has also been represented in 2026 by Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Magnitude, as well as graded winners Nearly, On Time Girl, and Six Speed.
Video: Apple Blossom H. (G1)
