BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Royal Poppy will have the riding services of jockey Frankie Dettori Saturday at Pimlico Race Course when the Florida-bred filly makes her stakes debut in the $100,000 Skipat. A field of seven fillies and mares have entered the six-furlong contest.
Owned by Adelphi Racing Club, Pavilion Racing, Zilla Racing Stables and Surrey Lane Stables, Royal Poppy has solid form in three starts at Aqueduct this year with a victory against second condition, $62,500 optional claiming fillies and mares going seven furlongs on Feb. 19. She was also second under the same conditions going six furlongs on Jan. 11 and third in her last start against upper level, $80,000 optional claiming fillies and mares on April 18.
Royal Poppy is trained by Raymond Handal and sports a career record of three wins, five seconds and three thirds in 14 starts with earnings of $277,510.
By Classic Empire out of M’Dearest, by Macho Uno, Royal Poppy twice went through the auction ring at Ocala Breeders’ Sales. She sold for $170,000 to John Ball out of the White Lilac consignment at the 2022 OBS Spring Sale and for $40,000 to Brothers Two at the 2021 OBS October Yearling Sale. She was bred in Florida by Orlyana Farm, who consigned her as a yearling.
Royal Poppy has drawn the inside post in the Skipat and is 5-1 on the morning line.
Apple Picker is the 7-5 morning line favorite for trainer Brittany Russell.
The 4-year-old filly won the Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie at Laurel on Feb. 17 two starts back in her first start of the year. Most recently, she was fourth behind winner Shidabhuti in the Grade 3 Distaff going seven furlongs at Aqueduct on April 6.
Apple Picker is by Connect out of Silent Fright, by Yes It’s True and has won four of 13 career starts with two seconds while earning $341,283.
Sheldon Russell has the call on Apple Picker and they have drawn post four.
Looking for her second straight stakes victory is Disco Ebo, winner of the $96,000 Primoneta going six furlongs at Laurel on April 13.
Disco Ebo is trained by Robert Reid Jr. for Cash in King LLC and LC Racing LLC and will break from post three.
She is listed at 5-2 in the program and Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride.
Rounding out the field are Late Frost with Jeiron Barbosa taking the riding assignment, Anonymously will have Jorge Hernandez in the saddle, Jaime Torres has the call on Sweet Shild O Mine and Flavien Prat rides Swall.
