There are now $5 million reasons for Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra to show up in Hot Springs, Ark. in April.

Oaklawn Park President Charles J. Cella announced Thursday that Oaklawn Park will increase the purse of the April 3 Apple Blossom (G1) to $5 million provided champions Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta both start.

That is an increase from last year where the purse was $500,000 for the race.

The race was a handicap in previous years, the name has been changed to the Apple Blossom Invitational, and the distance has increased from 1 1/16 miles to 1 1/8 miles to help lure the two super females.

Cella said the connections of both Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra have “embraced the idea.”

Zenyatta is in training and her next start will come March 13 in the Santa Margarita Handicap, and trainer John Shirreffs said the Apple Blossom was already on the radar for her second start of the year.

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Rachel Alexandra is in light training at Fair Grounds, and it is reported that she is not ready for a race. She has not started since last September.

There is a stake on the same day at Fair Grounds, and I am sure the track would be happy to accommodate her in a prep somewhere in that timeframe.

Both have won at Oaklawn Park, and now it may just be a matter of the two stars staying happy and healthy over the next two months.

A showdown in April would certainly get the industry jump started, and would sure give the sport plenty of momentum going into the first Saturday of May.

Keep your fingers crossed.

To purchase my full card report for Aqueduct that includes analysis, selections, fair odds, and wagering recommendations for today, click here.

Here is today's opening race from Aqueduct to get our day off to a good start:

AQU Race 1 Alw $42,000N1X (12:30 ET)
#6 Dubai Rainbow 8/1
#1 Ricoriatoa 3/1
#8 Came East 5/2
#4 Charlott Humor 7/2

Analysis: #6 Dubai Rainbow was a sharp winner at Penn last out and finally earned his diploma in his 12th try. The colt did not beat a very tough group, but two back he did come within a neck in a runner up finish behind repeat winner Cannon, who beat Alw-1 foes in his next start at Philly on Jan. 9. With his maiden score coming at Penn he may not get much respect in here, although he earned decent figs on the left coast. He is in a sharp barn with Hushion and we should catch a fair price.

#1 Ricoriatoa cuts back to a sprint after dueling for the early lead, opened up on the far turn and ran out of gas in the stretch in a fourth place finish. Three back he beat $60K claimers going seven furlongs and two back was sixth in the slop in a race in which the top two finishers came back to win next out, the winner Mt. Glittermore earning a 97 Beyer beating Alw-3 optional claimers, then running second in the Paumonok. He makes his second start off a two month break and the barn is 22% winners moving runners from route to sprint.

Wagering
WIN: #6 to win at 9/2 or better.
EX: 1,6 / 1,4,6,8
TRI: 1,6 / 1,4,6,8 / 1,4,6,7,8

Today's Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 8 Personal Girl S. (3:49 ET)
#1 Salt Water Reign 6/1
#5 What a Pear 8/1
#3 Silvercup Baby 4/1
#2 Motor City Mama 8/1

Analysis: #1 Salt Water Reign prompted the early pace and weakened to finish fifth last out against Alw-2 optional claimers and cuts back to one turn here. The mare has done her best running sprinting and makes her third start off the bench for the Klesaris barn that is 39% winners (with a +ROI) moving horses from route to sprint. She handles the inner 4 of her 5 career starts coming over the surface.

#5 What a Pear is 4 for 5 in her career on the inner and two of those were open stakes last year. Last out she tracked the early pace and tired to finish fourth against a tougher group than she faces today. Blinkers are added to the mix today and she figures to move forward off her latest. Worth a look if we catch most of the 8/1 ML.

Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 7/2 or better.
EX: 1,5 / 1,2,3,5
TRI: 1,5 / 1,2,3,5 / 1,2,3,5,8

Live Longshots:
These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.

Aqueduct
R1: #6 Dubai Rainbow 8/1
R2: #4 Royal Vessel 20/1
R6: #10 Windy Jo 15/1
R7: #5 Tsavorite 8/1
R8: #5 What a Pear 8/1
R8: #2 Motor City Mama 8/1
R9: #3 Whateverittakes 15/1

Good luck today!