Virginia-Bred Stellar Wind Points To Apple Blossom For Next Start

This piece appeared in The Paulick Report Feb. 27th

Rain in the Southern California area over the last two months has caused several interruptions to the training schedule, impacting the comeback of G1 winner Stellar Wind, reports drf.com.

Stellar Wind and Victor Espinoza, left, hold off Beholder and Gary Stevens to win the Grade I $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, CA. ©Benoit Photo — Stellar Wind and Victor Espinoza, left, hold off Beholder and Gary Stevens to win the Grade I $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, CA.
©Benoit Photo

The 5-year-old, Hronis Racing-owned daughter of Curlin has not raced since a fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, but had been scheduled to return in the G1 Santa Margarita on March 11 at Santa Anita. Rain has delayed her 2017 debut, and trainer John Sadler is now pointing the star distaffer to Oaklawn’s G1 Apple Blossom Handicap on April 15.

Stellar Wind (outside) upset Beholder at Del Mar Saturday in the Grade I Clement Hirsch Stakes. Courtesy of Benoit Photography. — Stellar Wind (outside) upset Beholder at Del Mar in the Grade I Clement Hirsch Stakes. Courtesy of Benoit Photography.

“I don’t want it to sound like I’m taking everything to Oaklawn, but I am,” Sadler said.

The veteran trainer will likely also send handicap horse Accelerate to the nine-furlong Oaklawn Handicap on April 16, despite his nomination to the 1 1/4-mile Santa Anita Handicap on March 11.

“I’m going to work him [Thursday or Friday], and see how the Big Cap shapes up. I’m a little hesitant of a mile and one-quarter. I don’t know if that’s his distance,” Sadler said.