There’s Quality All Around

Forget the Santa Anita Derby or the Repent Invitational, better known as the Illinois Derby. The two best races in the country today are for females.

Azeri, Miss Linda, Affluent, Fleet Renee and Spain--Grade I winners all--will get together in the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park. In Kentucky, Take Charge Lady and Belterra head a field of eight 3-year-old fillies in the $500,000 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland.

The Apple Blossom will have a decided California feel. Azeri has won four of five at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park and stepped up to the big leagues with a decisive victory in the Santa Margarita last month for the Allen Paulson Living Trust and trainer Laura De Seroux.

Affluent has already won on the road. Owner Janis Whitham’s homebred took the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Keeneland last fall and has since added the La Brea and El Encino Stakes to her resume. Eddie Delahoussaye is in Arkansas to ride Affluent.

Destined for an engagement with You and Habibti in the Kentucky Oaks on May 3, Take Charge Lady has won five of seven for trainer Ken McPeek and has dominated her class at the Fair Grounds this winter. Belterra is three for four in her career; she defeated Take Charge Lady in the Golden Rod last Nov. 24 at Churchill Downs.

Race of the day: The sixth is a wide-open sprint at about 61/2 furlongs on the turf. Contention runs deep in the full field; it is a great beginning to the pick six.

Who’s hot: Kids To The Cup. Started by Trudy McCaffery in 1999, the nonprofit, charitable organization’s aim is to attract, educate and develop racing fans between the ages of 8-16. Twenty of the group’s 400 nationwide members are visiting Santa Anita this weekend.

Who’s not: Pouring Down Rain. The 9-year-old gelding is winless in 19 races since the beginning of last year and is overmatched in today’s fourth at Bay Meadows.

Exotically speaking: A pick three singling Trackofthecat in the first, using Ninetenthsofthelaw, Chiselling, Box Office Event and Atticus Forever in the second and Bosque Redondo and Freedom Crest in the third.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/202. Money: Previous day/meet total: $10/$1,179.80. Total money bet: $1,250.