Camelot’s Santa Barbara Triumphs in Belmont Oaks

Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) worked through traffic late to break through in her fourth straight attempt at the highest level and complete the first half of the GI Belmont Oaks/GI Belmont Derby double for the Coolmore contingent Saturday. Deemed a 'TDN Rising Star' off a 2 1/2-length debut success at The Curragh last September, the buzzed-about bay could only manage fourth in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket May 2 and again in the G1 Cazoo Oaks at Epsom June 4–both as the favorite. She was most recently beaten a neck in the G1 Pretty Polly S. June 27.

Looking to provide her powerful owners with a third Belmont Oaks title, and Aidan O'Brien with his second in four years, the favorite drafted in midpack in between rivals through splits of :24.71, :51.31 and 1:16.40. She had nowhere to go at the top of the lane, but Ryan Moore wheeled her out a path and a sliver of daylight appeared. She sliced through that seam, and kicked on determinedly to collar pacesetter Con Lima (Commissioner) in the final strides. Higher Truth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) rounded out the trifecta for her superstar sire, who passed away Saturday at Coolmore Ireland and was soon to be represented by the Belmont Derby winner.

“It was quite a steadily run race,” said Moore. “They lined up and I was hoping Nazuna (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) would drop away a bit sooner. I didn't want to waste too much petrol by going around her. She's got class. She's got ability. She won without me moving a muscle… I had to go out one switch (path) and I didn't want to, but I had to. We're lucky we got out in time. She done it very easily. I'm very happy with her.”

T.J. Comerford, assistant O'Brien, offered, “She's been used to faster ground, so it probably took her a while to pick things up today on that slow ground. That was a good performance for her. Ryan knows her better than anyone and he knew that she had plenty of speed, so it was never a problem. She showed plenty of turn of foot in her other Group 1 starts in the Oaks and at The Curragh, she got beat by a good older filly. She's getting better as she gets on. Anytime you win a Group 1 is great.”

Saturday, Belmont Park
BELMONT OAKS INVITATIONAL S.-GI, $700,000, Belmont, 7-10, 3yo, f, 1 1/4mT, 2:03.76, gd.
1–SANTA BARBARA (IRE), 121, f, 3, by Camelot (GB)
                1st Dam: Senta's Dream (GB), by Danehill
                2nd Dam: Starine (Fr), by Mendocino
                3rd Dam: Grisonnante (Fr), by Kaldoun (Fr)
'TDN Rising Star'. 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES
   WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. O-Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B.
Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg; B-Whisperview Trading
Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan P. O'Brien; J-Ryan L. Moore. $375,000.
Lifetime Record: G1SP-Ire, 5-2-1-0, $491,612. *1/2 to Iridessa
(IRE) (Ruler of The World (IRE)), GISW-USA, G1SW-Eng,
MG1SW-Ire, $1,988,198; 1/2 to Order of Australia (IRE)
(Australia (GB)), Hwt. at 3-Ire- at 7 – 9 1/2 f., GISW,
$1,161,178. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Con Lima, 121, f, 3, by Commissioner
                1st Dam: Second Street City (SW, $209,843),
                               by Consolidator
                2nd Dam: Trix City, by Carson City
                3rd Dam: Always Nettie, by Vice Regent
($15,000 Wlg '18 KEENOV; $19,000 RNA Ylg '19 KEESEP;
$22,000 RNA 2yo '20 OBSMAR). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred
Partners, Joseph F. Graffeo, Del Toro, Eric Nikolaus & Troy
Johnson; B-Lisa Kuhlmann (TX); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $130,000.
3–Higher Truth (Ire), 121, f, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
                1st Dam: Wannabe Better (Ire) (GSW-Ire, $190,199),
                                by Duke of Marmalade (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Wannabe (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
                3rd Dam: Propensity (GB), by Habitat
(500,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Michael J. Ryan, Jeff Drown
& Team Hanley; B-Churchtown House Stud (IRE); T-Chad C.
Brown. $70,000.
Margins: HF, NO, 1HF. Odds: 1.15, 5.10, 7.50.
Also Ran: Gam's Mission, Plum Ali, Nazuna (Ire), Cirona (GB), Spanish Loveaffair. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Pedigree Notes:
Santa Barbara follows in the hoofsteps of Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who won this race for the same connections in 2018 off of a third in the Pretty Polly. Wonderment (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) was second in the 2019 renewal. Galileo's longtime stablemate Camelot is now responsible for eight highest-level winners and 26 grade/group winners.

As far as European pedigrees go, few are better bred for Stateside success than Santa Barbara. Dam Senta's Dream is a daughter of 2002 GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf heroine Starine, and was purchased for just 14,000gns at the 2013 Tattersalls December Mares Sale in foal to Equiano (Fr) (that foal, the eventually placed Tisa River (Ire), sold for 400,000gns at the same sale last year).

Senta's Dream's first five foals didn't do much, but her next three have certainly made up for it. Her 2016 filly Iridessa upset the 2019 GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf for Joseph O'Brien, while her 2017 colt Order of Australia belied incredible 73-1 odds to upend last year's GI Breeders' Cup Mile. Santa Barbara is her dam's final registered foal.

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Half-Sister To Two Breeders’ Cup Winners, Santa Barbara Headlines $700,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational

An international field led by the Aidan O'Brien-trained Santa Barbara will assemble for Saturday's $700,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational, first leg of the Turf Triple series for sophomore fillies at Belmont Park.

The Belmont Oaks is one of three stakes on the final Saturday of the Belmont spring/summer meet, including the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational, first leg of the Turf Triple series for 3-year-olds; and the Grade 3, $150,000 Victory Ride, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares.

Inaugurated in 2019, the Turf Triple series for fillies begins with Saturday's 1 1/4-mile (2,000 meters) test on the Belmont inner turf. The series continues at Saratoga Race Course on August 8 with the $700,000 Saratoga Oaks, held at 1 3/16-miles (1,900 meters) on the Saratoga lawn; and concludes with the $700,000 Jockey Club Oaks at 1 3/8-miles (2,200 meters) on the Belmont turf on September 18.

A winner at first asking in September at the Curragh, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg's Santa Barbara entered the Group 1 Thousand Guineas as the mutuel favorite, finishing fourth over one-mile of good going at Newmarket in May.

Santa Barbara was a distant fifth traveling 12 furlongs in the Group 1 Epsom Oaks over good-to-soft going on June 4, but showed grit and determination last out when a willing second in the Group 1 Pretty Polly defeated a head to 4-year-old Thundering Nights, who missed by a nose when second to multiple graded-stakes winner Mean Mary on June 4 in the Grade 2 New York at Belmont.

“Every race she's had this year has been a Group 1 and she's been running very well in them,” said O'Brien's traveling assistant T.J. Comerford. “I suppose the ground was bad at Epsom when she ran in the Oaks.

“Quicker ground suited her better taking on the older fillies [in the Pretty Polly] and she ran well,” Comerford added. “She came here on the back of that. It doesn't seem to have fazed her at all. She looks magnificent. She looks like a colt, actually.”

The regally-bred Santa Barbara, by Camelot and out of the Danehill mare Senta's Dream, is a half-sister to 2019 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf-winner Iridessa and 2020 Breeders' Cup Mile victor Order of Australia.

Comerford said Santa Barbara has the potential to match the ability of her accomplished siblings.

“They're Breeders' Cup winners and I suppose there's no reason why this one can't be of the same mold as those two,” Comerford said. “She obviously has a lot to live up to, but at the same time she's doing all the right things. Aidan thinks a lot of her. Her work at home has been all good. She probably is just running in tough races and getting all the experience from running in them.”

Santa Barbara, who will exit post 5 under Ryan Moore, is following a similar path to the O'Brien-trained Athena, also by Camelot, who finished third in the 2018 Pretty Polly and wheeled back on six-days rest to post a 2 1/2-length score in the Belmont Oaks under Moore.

“Aidan is very keen on her, so hopefully she doesn't disappoint,” said Comerford. “We did it before with Athena where it was only a week from when we ran her at the Curragh in the Pretty Polly. Athena came back and ran super at Belmont, so we're hoping to see the same from this one. She's coming here in good shape.”

Bradley Thoroughbreds, Tim Cambron, Anna Cambron, Kent Starr, Sara Starr and Gary Finder's Cirona, trained by Christophe Ferland, captured the Group 3 Prix de la Grotte in April at Longchamp traveling a prominent trip over one-mile of firm footing.

The British-bred daughter of Maxios followed with a narrow head defeat to Incarville after carving out the fractions in the 10-furlong Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary on soft turf in May at Longchamp.

Last out, Cirona failed to make the lead and never saw daylight when 10th, defeated just 3 1/4-lengths, in a 17-horse field in the 1 5/16-mile Group 1 Prix de Diane on June 20 at Chantilly.

Cirona will emerge from post 2 under Jose Lezcano.

Local hopes will be carried by the one-two finishers of last month's nine-furlong Grade 3 Wonder Again in Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Joseph Graffeo, Del Toro, Eric Nikolaus and Troy Johnson's Con Lima and Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Michael Caruso's Plum Ali.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Con Lima sat a stalking trip in the Wonder Again under Flavien Prat, prevailing by a half-length over the Christophe Clement-conditioned Plum Ali, who rallied wide from last-of-9 under Joel Rosario.

Con Lima, a Texas-bred daughter of Commissioner, was elevated to victory in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride in February at Gulfstream Park after Belmont Oaks-rival Spanish Loveaffair, who crossed the wire first, was disqualified and placed fourth.

“She shows up and runs well every time,” said Pletcher. “She finished up the mile and an eighth really well last time and being a daughter of Commissioner, you'd think the mile and a quarter would be within her scope. We're happy with the way she's doing and looking forward to giving her a shot.”

Boasting a consistent record of six wins and four seconds from 11 starts, Con Lima will exit the inside post under Prat.

“I'd like to see her prominent early, possibly on the lead. She seems to run effectively that way,” said Pletcher.

Plum Ali, a Kentucky-bred daughter of First Samurai, won her first three starts, culminating in a 2 1/4-length score in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Miss Grillo in October at Belmont. She completed her campaign with an even fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf won by Aunt Pearl in November at Keeneland.

The talented chestnut entered the Wonder Again from a close third in the Grade 2 Appalachian in April at Keeneland in her seasonal debut.

Clement said the wide, late-running trip last out was due to exiting the outermost post 9 and he expects a different trip this time when Plum Ali leaves post 7 with Rosario in the irons.

“She can be wherever she wants,” said Clement. “The other day she was drawn on the outside, which is why she was so far back in the race. With a good draw, there's no reason for her to be so far back.”

Clement said the added furlong shouldn't be an issue.

“She finished well going a mile and a furlong, so we'll give her another eighth of a mile and see what happens,” said Clement. “She's been a little bit unlucky, but hopefully she can put it all together.”

The French-born conditioner said he relishes the opportunity to take on a field laden with European talent.

“This is what happens in these kind of races with big purses,” said Clement. “The competition doesn't get easier, it gets tougher. Welcome to New York. My filly is nice too, we'll take them on.”

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Michael Hernon and Gary Barber's multiple graded-stakes placed Spanish Loveaffair enters from a narrow runner-up effort as the mutuel favorite to Belmont Oaks-rival Gam's Mission in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Regret, contested over good going on May 29 at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, the Karakontie bay captured the Sharp Susan in August at Gulfstream ahead of a good second to Aunt Pearl in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Jessamine in October at Keenland.

“There was some give in the ground last time and I think she'd prefer it a little firmer,” Casse said of the Regret effort. “She had a minor throat issue, so she missed some time. I thought, given the layoff, it was a really good effort. I was very pleased with her last start.”

Casse said Spanish Loveaffair required treatment following her sixth-place finish in the Grade 2 Appalachian at Keeneland in her start prior to the Regret.

“In her start at Keeneland, we discovered a kind of fungus afterwards that she had,” said Casse. “It was a weird deal; our vet said he hadn't seen it in 15 years. So, she had to go through some therapy and treatment but she recovered from it and ran well in the Regret.”

Casse said he is hopeful Spanish Loveaffair can take another step forward on Saturday.

“She'll have to be good, it's a tough field. She should build off her last race,” said Casse.

Tyler Gaffalione retains the mount from post 4.

Gam's Mission, a Lazy F Ranch homebred trained by Cherie DeVaux, has won 3-of-4 career starts. The Noble Mission bay graduated at second asking in a key 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on firm Fair Grounds turf in March and followed with a neck score in a 1 1/16-mile Churchill Downs allowance in May.
Last out, she closed from fifth to win her stakes debut in dramatic fashion by three-quarters of a length.

Adam Beschizza retains the mount from post 8.

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown will saddle allowance-winner Higher Truth in search of extending his Belmont Oaks record to six wins after previous scores with Samitar [2012], Alterite [2013], Minorette [2014], Lady Eli [2015] and New Money Honey [2017].

Michael Ryan, Jeff Drown and Team Hanley's Higher Truth, an Irish-bred daughter of Galileo, has won her last two starts going 10-furlongs on firm Belmont turf. The lightly-raced bay graduated on April 22 and followed with an allowance score over older fillies and mares on June 10.

Jose Ortiz will guide Higher Truth from post 3.

Nazuna, an Irish-bred daughter of Kodiac, is trained by Roger Varian for his wife, Hanako.

Following a runner-up effort in the seven-furlong Group 2 Rockfel in September at Newmarket, Nazuna made her North American debut with a 10th in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf to close out her 2-year-old campaign in November.

Nazuna made her seasonal debut with a runner-up effort in the 1 1/16-mile Group 3 Princess Elizabeth on June 5 at Epsom.

Hall of Famer John Velazquez will ride Nazuna from post 6.

The Belmont Oaks is slated as Race 7 on Saturday's 11-race card. First post is 1 p.m. Eastern.

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Beaten Epsom Derby Favorite Bolshoi Ballet, Santa Barbara Arrive For Belmont Turf Engagements

The Aidan O'Brien-trained pair of Bolshoi Ballet and Santa Barbara arrived in New York by way of Ballydoyle Training Center in Ireland on Sunday evening for their respective starts in the first leg of NYRA's Turf Triple series on Saturday at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Bolshoi Ballet targets the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational, while stablemate Santa Barbara will be entered in the Grade 1, $700,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational. Both races are contested at 10 furlongs on the inner turf.

“They're perfect. They've arrived in great shape,” said T.J. Comerford, travelling assistant for O'Brien.

Bolshoi Ballet, who finished seventh as the favorite last out in the Group 1 Epsom Derby, will look to give O'Brien a second triumph in the Belmont Derby after shipping Deauville stateside for a successful engagement in 2016.

The bay son of influential international sire Galileo won both his efforts in 2021 prior to the Epsom Derby.

“He's in good order and looks well. We're very happy with him,” Comerford said.

Owned by Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Westerberg, Bolshoi Ballet is out of the Anabaa mare Alta Anna.

Santa Barbara arrives at the Belmont Oaks off a runner-up effort to Thundering Nights in the Group 1 Pretty Polly on June 27 at The Curragh. Since a first out maiden victory over the County Kildare green in September, the daughter of 2012 Epsom Derby winner Camelot has made her three following efforts against Group 1 company.

Out of the Danehill mare Senta's Dream, Santa Barbara is a half-sister to Breeders' Cup winners Iridessa [2019 Filly and Mare Turf] and Order of Australia [2020 Mile].

“She's a filly that we think a lot of,” Comerford said. “She ran in some tough races this year after winning her maiden race. She's taken everything in stride.”

Turf Triple contenders Tokyo Gold, Cirona and Nazuna arrived at Belmont on Sunday morning.

Trained by Shinya Kobayashi, Tokyo Gold will start in the Belmont Derby, while the Christophe Ferland-trained Cirona and Roger Varian-conditioned Nazuna will point to the Belmont Oaks.

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Knight Launches Wesellbloodstock.com

Richard Knight has launched Wesellbloodstock.com, a sales platform for high-end horses in training and broodmares. Wesellbloodstock.com describes itself as not an auction site, but as a mediator for vendors and potential purchasers. There is no commission charged to purchasers; vendors pay a 5% commission, with 10% within that commission going to Retraining of Racehorses.

Horses offered on Wesellracehorses.com must pass a preliminary vet report (x-ray and scope and, for broodmares, a vet report including pregnancy diagnosis). Professional photos and videos will also be provided of each offering.

The first horse offered through the platform is the 5-year-old Listed Doonside Cup S. winner Encapsulation (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in foal on the first cover to Camelot (GB). Encapsulation is listed at £250,000 plus VAT.

Knight, who has sourced Group 1 winners Waikuku (Ire), The Wow Signal (Ire) and Garswood (GB), said, “I am delighted to launch Wesellbloodstock.com with the high-class mare Encapsulation who is in foal to one of my favourite stallions, Camelot. Encapsulation is a good-looking, listed-winning mare who got in foal on the first cover to Camelot and will make a great addition to anyone's broodmare band.”

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