The apple of trainer Daniel Leitch’s eye is KatieRich Stables’ homebred American Apple, who is scheduled to open her 2023 campaign in Friday’s fourth running of the $250,000 FanDuel Limestone (L) going 5½ furlongs on the turf. 

American Apple gave the 28-year-old Leitch his first stakes win when she won the Matron (G3) last October. From there, American Apple led the field nearing the far turn in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) against the boys before fading to sixth. 

“I couldn’t believe it,” Leitch said of the Breeders’ Cup experience. “I don’t know if I’ll ever get back there. I still go back and watch the replay.” 

A daughter of American Pharoah out of the graded stakes-placed Miss Mary Apples who was co-owned by KatieRich, American Apple received a vacation following the Breeders’ Cup. 

“She came out of the Breeders’ Cup in wonderful shape,” Leitch said. “I gave her two months off and she came back better than I could have hoped for. (Owner) Larry Doyle said she left a little girl and came back a woman.” 

American Apple had her final Limestone drill Friday going a half-mile on the main track in :50.40, her eighth work since returning to the work tab and third on the main track following five works on Keeneland’s all-weather training track. 

“I never work her on turf. She does fine on the dirt,” Leitch said.