2026 Apple Blossom Handicap: Win and trifecta picks from horse racing guru

Champion filly Nitrogen will look to get back in the winner's circle when the starting gate opens in the 2026 Apple Blossom Handicap on Saturday at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. The reigning champion 3-year-old filly from 2025 and an earner of more than $2.2 million in her career, Nitrogen has seven wins in 14 career starts. But she is coming off a third-place finish in the Azeri Stakes on March 7. For Saturday she has been installed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the 2026 Apple Blossom Handicap odds. Regaled (3-1), Majestic Oops (9-2), Nerazurri (6-1) and Claret Beret (8-1) round out the top five choices among the nine horses in the 2026 Apple Blossom Handicap field. Post time for the Apple Blossom Handicap 2026 is 6:47 p.m. ET.

Before locking in any 2026 Apple Blossom Handicap bets, you NEED to see what longtime horse racing guru Jeff Hochman has to say.

Hochman has shown a profit in 22 of the past 39 Triple Crown races. One example of his best picks was Big Brown in the 2008 Kentucky Derby at odds of 2-1. More recently, he swept the 2022 Triple Crown, capped off by Mo Donegal's easy win in the Belmont Stakes. In 2023, he cashed the Preakness with National Treasure. In 2024, he successfully tabbed Straight No Chaser to win, place and show in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship at odds of 3-2.

Hochman delivered exceptional handicapping results during the summer 2025 racing season at two of the country's premier tracks, Saratoga and Del Mar. His combined 65.7% win rate across the two tracks represents elite-level performance that significantly exceeds industry benchmarks for professional handicappers. Join here to see what he's picking for Saturday's Apple Blossom Handicap.

While a slew of horses could hit the board in the 2026 Apple Blossom Handicap, Hochman has studied the field and revealed his picks. 

One surprise: Hochman is high on Nerazurri, a 6-1 longshot. "Her 3-for-4 lifetime record at Oaklawn and reputable connections make her a viable candidate for inclusion in exotic wagers," Hochman says. He is including Nerazurri prominently in his wagers.

Moreover, Hochman's top pick is a filly whose last two workouts have been "super impressive." He also is high on a longshot who is a "must-use." 

You ABSOLUTELY NEED to see which horses they are before making any 2026 Apple Blossom Handicap picks of your own.

So which horse wins the 2026 Apple Blossom Handicap? Which longshot is a must-back? And how has Hochman constructed his wagers? ... Join SportsLine now to get Jeff Hochman's 2026 Apple Blossom Handicap picks, all from the expert who was red-hot at Saratoga and Del Mar last summer!