It’s a short, but select field for Saturday’s $1 million Grade 1 Apple Blossom Stakes at Oaklawn. The 1-1/16 miles, tradition-rich staple of springtime in Arkansas shares the marquee Saturday with the $500,000 Grade 3 Count Fleet for sprinters.

Let’s Meet the Contenders for the Apple Blossom:

#1 Secret Oath (Tyler Gaffalione // D. Wayne Lukas)

The 2022 Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks winner has amassed just shy of $2 million in lifetime earnings. Secret Oath returned for her 4-year-old season in style with an impressive win in the Grade 3 Azeri Stakes, local prep for the Apple Blossom. Her auspicious sophomore season saw her finish fourth in the Preakness, third in the Arkansas Derby and she lit the board in Grade 1 races like the Coaching Club American Oaks, Alabama and Cotillion. Hall of Fame trainer Lukas has 3 Apple Blossom trophies: 1983 (Miss Huntington), 1987 (North Sider) and most recently 2004 (Azeri). Dam Absinthe Minded finished third in the 2011 Apple Blossom and second in her 2012 return try.

#2 Hot and Sultry (David Cabrera // Norm Casse)

First or second in 5 of 6 career starts, she won the American Beauty Stakes in January while pressing the pace. She subsequently finished fourth in the Grade 3 Azeri, beaten just over 3 lengths by Secret Oath after dueling on the lead. While not a dead-set front-runner, she should be quickest of these early and set the tempo under expectedly modest fractions. Jockey Cabrera seeks his first Grade 1 victory, as does trainer Norm Casse, who earlier this spring won the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks with Southlawn for his biggest career score.

#3 I Feel the Need (Chel-c Bailey // Burl McBride)

The field’s longest shot has 1 win from 8 starts, coming in maiden claiming company 14 months ago. She finished fourth in the 2022 Grade 3 Fantasy, outrunning her 40-1 odds in that 8-filly affair. Would be the first graded stakes winner for jockey Bailey as well as trainer McBride, who has been plying his trade since 1981. Daughter of Keen Ice, who upset Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in a 16-1 stunner in the 2015 Travers. Deep closer not expected to impact the early pace.

#4 Clairiere (Joel Rosario // Steve Asmussen)

Top earner in the field with $2.1 million banked, she rallied to be second-best behind Letruska in this race last season. Clairiere was a Grade 1 winner at age 3 (Cotillion) and age 4 (Ogden Phipps). The five-year-old may be the field’s elder this year, but this race has been won by the likes of Letruska (6), Zenyatta (6) and Azeri (6) in recent decades. Trainer Asmussen’s Apple Blossom history includes victories with Untapable (2015) and Midnight Bisou (2019). Jockey Rosario won the ’14 Apple Blossom aboard Close Hatches. Expect her rally to follow Secret Oath and try to cut into that 2-3/4 length margin when second-best in the Azeri.