Trainer Chad Brown said following the race that the now two-time graded stakes winner could potentially target the $300,000 Grade 1 American Oaks on December 26 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

Fluffy Socks, with the red-hot Joel Rosario up, split rivals down the lane to overtake pacesetting stablemate Higher Truth and fended off the late rally of stakes winner Runaway Rumour to secure a narrow neck score.

Fluffy Socks is by New York-based stallion Slumber, who stands at Rockridge Stud in Hudson, New York.

“Joel gave her a great ride. She consistently shows up,” said Brown's assistant Dan Stupp. “We've always really liked her. She really came through yesterday and came out of the race great.”

Fluffy Socks, who sports a consistent ledger of 10-4-3-1, entered the Sands Point from a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., on August 21. She notched her previous graded stakes triumph at the California oval when completing her juvenile season with a victory in the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante.

All four of Fluffy Socks' wins have come over different ovals. During her 2-year-old season, she broke her maiden at second asking at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ky., en route to a victory in her stakes debut in the Selima last October at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md.

Jeff Drown, Michael Ryan, and Team Hanley's Higher Truth earned black-type for the fourth straight race, finishing less than one length of victory all four times. The daughter of Galileo set an easy pace upfront and was poised for victory in the stretch run but was ultimately collared by Fluffy Socks inside the sixteenth pole.

Higher Truth, who contested all three legs of NYRA Turf Triple series for fillies, saw a considerable cut back in distance from the 1 3/8-mile Jockey Club Oaks Invitational, where she was a close second beaten three-quarters of a length. She previously was a respective second and third in the Grade 3 Saratoga Oaks Invitational and Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational.

“She comes up a touch short in her races, but she's been very consistent,” Stupp said. “I think she has a bright future ahead of her and she'll get better with age. She'll definitely stay.”

For the second week in a row, Brown secured a triumph in a major stakes race at both Belmont Park and Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. Some 90 minutes after the Sands Point, Shantisara bested stablemate Technical Analysis in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland.

Owned by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, and Robert V. LaPenta, Shantisara tracked Technical Analysis' moderate fractions from third down the backstretch and took command in upper stretch to win by five lengths, earning a 99 Beyer.

Last week, Brown notched the exacta in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic with Rockemperor and Serve the King before Blowout and Regal Glory ran one-two in the Grade 1 First Lady at Keeneland.

“It's been a fun run here the last few weeks,” Stupp said. “Shantisara has trained extremely well here since she arrived at Belmont. They did great with her at Saratoga. She had a nice campaign and a lot of confidence. You could see it in her training that she moved forward all throughout the fall. She just looked great before she left.”

Shantisara's Queen Elizabeth II victory followed triumphs in the Jockey Club Oaks Invitational and the Grade 3 Pucker Up at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Ill.

“Off that [Jockey Club] Oaks victory in the fall, you could just see how much she was improving,” Stupp said.

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From the opening strides of the 1 1/8-mile Sands Point, Higher Truth led the field of seven, controlling the pace with a one-length lead over Our Flash Drive. With fractions of :25.34 for the first quarter and :50.14 for the half-mile, the other Chad Brown trainee looked poised to take the race gate to wire. Behind her, Rosario held Fluffy Socks midpack, content to sit 4th or 5th until the stretch.

In the Belmont straight, Rosario took Fluffy Socks to the outside of front-runners Higher Truth and Our Flash Dive, with Runaway Rumour following. Fluffy Socks caught a tiring Higher Truth in the final sixteenth of a mile and then was able to hold off Runaway Rumour to win the G2 stakes by a neck.

The final time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:48.48. Find this race's chart here.

Fluffy Socks paid $10.20, $5.60, and $3.00. Runaway Rumour paid $10.80 and $4.30. Higher Truth paid $2.10.

Bred in Kentucky by owner Head of Plains Racing, Fluffy Socks is by Slumber (GB) out of the Kitten's Joy mare Breakfast Time. With her win in the G2 Sands Point, the 3-year-old filly has one win in five starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of 10-4-3-1 and career earnings of $430,880.

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“I think she'll be able to handle the cutback. She's been training well,” Brown said to the NYRA notes team.

Higher Truth's stablemate Fluffy Socks (Slumber {GB}) returns to the east coast after a good run at Del Mar last time out. Winner of the GIII Jimmy Durante S. in SoCal last year, the bay rallied to be a close second in Aqueduct's Memories of Silver S. Apr. 18. A non-factor fifth in the GIII Wonder Again S. over course and distance June 3, she closed resolutely to be second in Saratoga's GIII Lake George S. July 23 and made another bold rally to be third in the GI Del Mar Oaks Aug. 21.

Harajuku (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) makes her first start for trainer Graham Motion here after previously being campaigned in Europe with trainer Andre Fabre. Winner of the G3 Prix Cleopatre S. May 1 at Saint-Cloud, the Flaxman homebred was off the board in her next four European starts, culminating in a fourth in the G2 Prix de la Nonette S. Aug. 21. The bay made her final start for Fabre at Belmont, a third in the Jockey Club Oaks.

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Michael Ryan, Jeff Drown, and Team Hanley's Higher Truth, piloted by Jose Ortiz, set a moderate tempo with Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, and Robert V. LaPenta's Shantisara stalking outside in second position under Flavien Prat over the firm turf.

Higher Truth kicked on at the top of the lane but could not fend off her stablemate, who earned the half-length score in a final time of 2:16.91.

“It was a really good race and it's a shame one of them had to lose because they both ran their hearts out. I was proud of both of their efforts,” Brown said.

Shantisara, by Coulsty, made her first five starts in France before being transferred to Brown and making her North American debut with a runner-up effort in the Boiling Springs in June at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. She entered from a convincing three-length score under Prat in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Pucker Up in August at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Higher Truth competed in all three legs of the Turf Triple, missing by a half-length when third in the Belmont Oaks, and was a game second, defeated less than a length, in the Saratoga Oaks.

Brown said he would speak with the ownership groups of both horses to see if they want to race once more this season.

Peter Brant and e Five Racing Thoroughbreds' So Enchanting, a 3-year-old daughter of More Than Ready, graduated at fifth asking on the Saturday undercard to improve her record to 5-1-3-1.

With Irad Ortiz, Jr. up, the Kentucky-bred chestnut stalked in fourth position in the 1 1/16-mile turf test before engaging with pacesetter Miss Bonnie T at the eighth pole, taking command in the final sixteenth for a three-quarter length score.

So Enchanting, who was stretching out beyond one mile for the first time, has kept good company through five starts, including runner-up efforts sprinting six furlongs on the Belmont turf to launch her career, finishing in front of eventual stakes winners Bay Storm [on October 3] and Miss Brazil [on October 25].

“We always thought she had plenty of ability,” Brown said. “She stretched out nicely to a mile and a sixteenth which was good to see. She got a great trip yesterday. I was happy for her to break through and get the maiden win out of the way.”

Peter Brant's multiple Grade 1-winner Raging Bull closed to finish third under Frankie Dettori in Saturday's Grade 1 Woodbine Mile at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, contested over good going on the E. P. Taylor Turf Course.

“He didn't really handle the course. Frankie said he was struggling a little bit on the turn and lost some position there,” Brown said. “I was proud of him that he kicked in again when he got to the center of the track in the stretch. He found some firmer ground and kicked on.”

Raging Bull, a 6-year-old French-bred son of Dark Angel, boasts a record of 21-7-4-4 with purse earnings in excess of $1.6 million.

“If he comes out of it well I'm planning on making the final start of his career in the Breeders' Cup Mile,” Brown said.

Klaravich Stables' Domestic Spending and the Brant-owned Flop Shot breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80 in company Sunday on the Belmont inner turf.

Domestic Spending, a three-time Grade 1 winner, finished second last out in the Grade 1 Mr. D. on August 14 at Arlington Park. Brown said the 4-year-old Kingman gelding is likely to make his next start in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf in November at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.

“They went fine. It was a good work for both of them,” Brown said.

Flop Shot, a 5-year-old son of New Approach, won the 2019 Group 3 Prix de Guiche in France for his former conditioner Andre Fabre. He last raced in June 2020, finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Fort Marcy.

Brown said Flop Shot was gelded earlier this year and is close to a return to action.

Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister's impressive maiden winner Jack Christopher breezed five-eighths in company in 1:01.05 Saturday on the main track in preparation for the $500,000 Grade 1 Champagne, a one-turn mile offering a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

The Munnings chestnut, purchased for $135,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, registered a 92 Beyer for a romping 8 3/4-length score on debut in a six-furlong maiden special weight on August 28 at Saratoga.

“He went well in company with a maiden. He's done everything right and settled into Belmont nicely,” Brown said.

Brown said the added distance shouldn't be an issue for the talented chestnut.

“It's still just one turn, so I think he'll be OK. I like the way he's training,” Brown said.

Peter Brant and Robert V. LaPenta's graded-stakes placed Miles D breezed a bullet half-mile in :47.84 Saturday in Saratoga on the Oklahoma dirt training track.

A maiden winner in June at Belmont, the Curlin sophomore followed with a runner-up effort to Dynamic One in the nine-furlong Curlin and was third last out in the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers.

Brown said Miles D will not start in next weekend's Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby and that he will look for other options.

“I'm not sure what I'm going to do with him yet. I'd like to give him a little bit more time,” Brown said.

Klaravich Stables' Public Sector worked a half-mile in :49.12 Saturday on the Oklahoma dirt training track. Brown said the Kingman sophomore, who won the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame and the Grade 3 Saranac at the Spa this summer, is probable for the $400,000 Grade 2 Hill Prince, a nine-furlong turf test for 3-year-olds on October 23.

W.S. Farish homebred Royal Flag, a 5-year-old multiple graded-stakes winning daughter of Candy Ride, worked a half-mile in :48.70 Saturday on the Oklahoma dirt training track.

Royal Flag won the Grade 3 Shuvee in July and closed to finish third in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign in August this summer at the Spa.

Brown said the chestnut, who sports a ledger of 11-5-3-2 with purse earnings of $435,520, will point to either the $250,000 Grade 2 Beldame on October 10 at Belmont or the Grade 1 Spinster on October 10 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

“This will be her last year of running. She's at the top of her game right now as a 5-year-old,” Brown said. “It would be nice to get her a Grade 1.”

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A last-out winner in the Grade 3 Pucker Up at Arlington Park, Shantisara with Flavien Prat broke cleanly and took up position on the outside of Higher Truth, content to sit a length back early. With early fractions of :25.51 for the first quarter of a mile and :51.70 for the half, Higher Truth ran easily on the front, looking to take the race gate to wire.

On the far turn, Shantisara pulled even with the leader, as Harajuku started her move on the hedge. While Harajuku looked for running room after trailing much of the race, the two Chad Brown fillies dueled down the Belmont stretch, with Shantisara able to dig in and take the lead in the race's final yards to win by a half-length. Higher Truth was second and Harajuku third.

The final time for the 1 3/8 miles was 2:16.91. Find this race's chart here.

Shantisara paid $11.40, $5.40, and $3.60. Higher Truth paid $3.20 and $2.20. Harajuku paid $2.80.

Bred in Ireland by Oliver Donlon, Shantisara is by Coulsty out of the Dalakhani mare Kharana. She is owned by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, and Robert LaPenta. She was consigned by Aguiar Bloodstock and sold to Federico Barberini, agent, for $13,171 at the 2020 Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale With her win in the Jockey Club Oaks, the 3-year-old filly has two wins in five starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of four wins in eight starts and career earnings of $488,108.

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“Shantisara is an improving horse,” said trainer Chad Brown. “I just have to say that I'm so appreciative to the ownership group. The three groups that own her have been super patient and let me develop her at our pace and her pace. She's really shown some promise. We were even tempted to take a shot up at Saratoga. We talked about it and figured we would just go to Arlington. She needs a bit more seasoning over here and that's when we were able to hook her up with Flavien [Prat] and it just took the filly up another notch. I'm really proud of her development. She and Higher Truth both look like really promising horses going into next year.”

Shantisara started her career in France with trainer Frederic Rossi, winning two of her five starts there. Privately purchased by these connections and sent to Brown, she finished second in the Boiling Springs S. at Monmouth June 26 and captured Arlington's GIII Pucker Up S. next out Aug. 14.

Pedigree Notes:

Shantisara is one of four black-type winners for her sire Coulsty. She is the only runner produced by Kharana, who has only had three live foals and has not been bred since she had the winner. Her second dam is SW & GSP Khanata (Riverman).

Saturday, Belmont Park
JOCKEY CLUB OAKS INVITATIONAL S., $671,000, Belmont, 9-18, 3yo, f, 1 3/8mT, 2:16.91, fm.
1–SHANTISARA (IRE), 121, f, 3, by Coulsty (Ire)
               1st Dam: Kharana (Ire), by Dalakhani (Ire)
               2nd Dam: Khantala (Ire), by Zafonic
               3rd Dam: Khanata, by Riverman
(10,000gns 2yo '20 TATGBR). O-Michael Dubb, Madaket
Stables LLC & Robert V. LaPenta; B-Mr Oliver Donlon (IRE);
T-Chad C. Brown; J-Flavien Prat. $375,000. Lifetime Record:
GSW, 8-4-2-0, $488,108.
2--Higher Truth (Ire), 121, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Wannabe Better
(Ire), by Duke of Marmalade (Ire). (500,000gns Ylg '19
TATOCT). O-Michael J. Ryan, Jeff Drown, & Team Hanley;
B-Churchtown House Stud (IRE); T-Chad C. Brown.
$130,000.
3–Harajuku (Ire), 121, f, 3, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Phaenomena
(Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-Flaxman Holdings, Ltd.; B-Flaxman
Stables Ireland Ltd (IRE); T-Andre Fabre. $70,000.
Margins: HF, 2, 1 1/4. Odds: 4.70, 2.20, 2.75.
Also Ran: Creative Flair (Ire), Madone, Baby Blythe. Scratched: Be Up.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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A 500,000gns purchase by Mike Ryan at Tattersalls October-Book 1 in 2019, Higher Truth won back-to-back races over 10 furlongs of this turf course during the spring/summer meeting, then just failed to reel in the fast-finishing Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and pacesetting Con Lima (Commissioner) in the GI Belmont Oaks July 10. The bay was getting to the latter when they last met in the GIII Saratoga Oaks Invitational, missing by 3/4 of a length. Santa Barbara also did her part to frank the form of the Belmont Oaks with her convincing defeat of older rivals in the GI Beverly D. S. at Arlington Aug. 14.

Speaking of the Chicago oval, former French claiming horse Shantisara (Ire) (Coulsty {Ire}) improved on a runner-up effort in the June 26 Boiling Springs S. to validate 9-5 favoritism in the GIII Pucker Up S., carrying Flavien Prat to a three-length victory.

Harakuju (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is an intriguing new shooter for the Niarchos Family's Flaxman Holdings and trainer Andre Fabre. The homebred bested Incarville (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the G3 Prix Cleopatre over an extended 10-furlong trip in May, but may have struggled with easier ground when only seventh to that foe in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary a bit more than three weeks later. Sixth, but close, in the G1 Prix de Diane June 20, Harakuju was short of room and fractionally unlucky when fourth in the G3 Prix de Psyche at Deauville Aug. 3 and posted a similar finish in the G2 Prix de la Nonette Aug. 21. Stephane Pasquier should have her handy to the pace and quicker ground could work in her favor.

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Gam's Mission broke fastest, but Flavien Prat had Con Lima on the lead with a few strides of the gate, taking over before the first turn of the 1 3/16-mile Saratoga Oaks. Running easily on the front, Prat and Con Lima controlled the pace, setting fractions of :23.64 for the first quarter and :50.02 for the first half-mile. Behind her, Gam's Mission and Higher Truth stalked in second and third, poised to challenge Con Lima in the stretch.

Around the final turn, Gam's Mission made her move first but was not able to pass Con Lima, fading in the stretch. Higher Truth pursued the front runner in the last furlong, making up ground to get within a three-quarters of a length of Con Lima at the wire. Creative Flair, who was taken up early and had to go wide to find running room, was able to pass horses in the stretch to grab third. Plum Ali, Gam's Mission, Out of Sorts, Messidor, and Rocky Sky rounded out the field of eight.

The final time for the 1 3/16 miles was 1:54.42. Find this race's chart here.

Con Lima paid $8.10, $5.00, and $3.30. Higher Truth paid $6.80 and $4.00. Creative Flair paid $3.30 to show.

“I was analyzing the race beforehand and we were the only speed but I wasn't 100 percent sure with a couple of the Euros if they would show some initiative. I left it in Flavien's [Prat] hands and Plan A was to break well and see if anybody would try to take the lead away from us and if they didn't, we'd be happy to have it. It worked out really well,” Pletcher said after the Saratoga Oaks.

“The speed was pretty much me and the Godolphin filly [No. 7, Creative Flair] and it seems she broke a step slow. I broke better than her and I ended up on the lead,” jockey Flavien Prat told the NYRA Press Office after the race. “Going to the first turn I felt really comfortable. I was really pleased with the way she was traveling and I felt we were doing some easy fractions. She really kicked on well.”

Bred in Texas by Lisa Kuhlmann, Con Lima is a 3-year-old filly by Commissioner out of Second Street City, by Consolidator. Purchased for $22,000 from Niall Brennan Stables at the March 2020 Ocala Breeders Two-Year-Olds In Training Sale, she is owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Joseph Graffeo, Del Toro, Eric Nikolaus, and Troy Johnson. With her win in the G3 Saratoga Oaks Invitational, Con Lima has five wins in eight starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of seven wins and five seconds in 13 starts, with career earnings of $884,865.

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Coming off consecutive victories in Belmont's June 3 GIII Wonder Again S. and Gulfstream's May 1 Honey Ryder S. prior to the Belmont Oaks, Con Lima has the highest Beyer–89–of the American runners in the field. Her record stands at a stellar 11 first- or second-place finishes from 12 starts for her ownership group–Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Joseph F. Graffeo, Eric Nikolaus Del Toro, and Troy Johnson–but she's up against a couple of formidable Europeans in this spot.

Creative Flair (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) hails from the Charlie Appleby stable with three wins from her last five starts. After consecutive mile scores and a mile listed stakes placing in England, she stretched out to 10 furlongs and promptly notched her first stakes win. She shortened up to nine furlongs for the G3 Prix Chloe in France, getting run down at the end for a third. The Godolphin homebred gets Mike Smith in the irons to share morning-line favoritism with Con Lima. Godolphin won this race last year with Antoinette (Hard Spun).

Peter Brant's Rocky Sky (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) has done little wrong, never off the board in four starts in Ireland and now makes her first appearance since a 1 1/4-mile win in a listed event Apr 25. She makes her American debut for new trainer Chad Brown, who has a stunning record with European imports on the stateside lawn.

Lightly raced Higher Truth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is Brown's other runner here and has improved with every race. A second-out maiden win in April gave way to an allowance victory in June. She parlayed those two victories into a nose third behind Con Lima in her first stakes try in the Belmont Oaks.

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The 1 3/16-mile Saratoga Oaks Invitational, middle jewel of NYRA's Turf Triple series for 3-year-old fillies, is one of two grass stakes on the program, joined by the $120,000 Fasig-Tipton De La Rose for older fillies and mares. Sunday's card also features the Grade 2, $200,000 Adirondack for juvenile fillies on the main track.

In his first year of eligibility, the 54-year-old Pletcher will be inducted Friday into the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame, located across Union Avenue from the racetrack where he has been leading trainer 14 times including last year. Two days later he will be looking for his first win in the Saratoga Oaks, inaugurated in 2019.

Con Lima set the pace but fell a half-length short of winner Santa Barbara in the first leg of the Turf Triple series for sophomore fillies, the Grade 1, 1 ¼-mile Belmont Oaks Invitational July 10 at Belmont Park. The Commissioner filly was left alone on an easy lead, going a half-mile in 51.31 seconds and a mile in 1:40.76 before being caught late.

Prior to that race, Con Lima won the 1 1/16-mile Honey Ryder May 1 at Gulfstream Park and Belmont's Grade 3 Wonder Again June 3 in successive starts, both also on the turf, where she has a record of five wins and two seconds from seven tries.

“It's not obvious in her pedigree, but obviously she's performed well over the grass. She appreciates the tighter turns at Saratoga like she did at Gulfstream. She's doing well and we're looking forward to trying it again,” Pletcher said. “She just continues to step up. She's been super consistent and gives a good effort every time.”

Flavien Prat has the mount from post 5 on Con Lima, whose other stakes wins came over the winter at Gulfstream in the Ginger Brew January 2 and Grade 3 Herecomesthebride February 27, when she was placed first following the disqualification of Spanish Loveaffair.

“She seemed to really like Gulfstream, which is a tighter course, so maybe that will work in her favor here,” Pletcher said. “If she continues to run her races the way she has been, she should be able to get one of [these].”

Trainer Chad Brown is set to send out the pair of Higher Truth and Rocky Sky in the Saratoga Oaks. Michael Ryan, Jeff Drown and Team Hanley's Higher Truth was third, a nose behind Con Lima, in the Belmont Oaks, just her fourth career start and first in a stakes.

“She got a great trip and was right there. I was proud of her effort,” Brown said. “She's a horse that continues to improve, so we should be in good shape. Moving forward as far as her development, I really like what I see. She's a distance horse, absolutely.”

Peter Brant's Rocky Sky will be racing for the first time in the U.S. after four starts in her native Ireland. Last out, she won the 1 ¼-mile Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Salsabil Stakes April 24.

“We've had her for a little while now. She seems to be really adapting to the program. The last couple works were the best I've seen from her. She's an exciting prospect,” Brown said. “She's doing everything right. We momentarily thought about the Belmont Oaks. It was just too soon for her. I wanted more time with her and I think it was the right decision. I really like where I'm at now with her.”

Jose Ortiz has the mount on Higher Truth from post 1 while older brother Irad Ortiz, Jr. rides Rocky Sky from post 6.

Also in from Europe are Creative Flair and Messidor.

Godolphin homebred Creative Flair was beaten a head when third in the Group 3 Prix Chloe July 18 at Chantilly in France. The bay daughter of Dubawi won twice this year in England, including the 1 1/8-mile Betfair British E.B.F. Abingdon Stakes June 10 at Newbury.

“She ran a huge race last time. It looked like she was really going to go and win that, and she just got collared near the line,” said Chris Connett, traveling assistant for trainer Charlie Appleby. “She will wear a hood to run in, but she's always worn that and we won't change anything now. She'll sit on or near the pace and she sees the trip pretty well. Her form is solid, and she should take a bit of beating.”

Hall of Famer Mike Smith gets the assignment on Creative Flair from post 7.

Blue Devil Racing Stable's Messidor, trained by Joseph O'Brien, has been third in three stakes in England and Ireland, and was only beaten 4 ½ lengths when eighth in the Group 3 Ballylinch Stud Priory Belle One Thousand Guineas Trial April 11 at Leopardstown, contested at seven furlongs. Hall of Famer John Velazquez rides from post 2.

Lazy F Ranch homebred Gam's Mission capped a three-race win streak in the Grade 3, 1 1/8-mile Regret May 29 at Churchill Downs. The effort propelled the Galileo filly into the Belmont Oaks, where she was outkicked late following a wide trip and wound up fourth, beaten only two lengths.

“I thought she ran great,” trainer Cherie DeVaux said. “All things considered, I think she ran her race which was really good in a Grade 1 stepping up in company and losing by two lengths to some very nice fillies. It was further than she's ever gone before and a big step up in company, and I think she handled it all really well. She came out of it in good shape.”

Saratoga meet-leading rider Luis Saez climbs aboard for the first time from post 3.

The connections of Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Michael Caruso's Plum Ali will be hoping to see some early foot to aid the winner of the Grade 2 Miss Grillo last fall that has been beaten a total of five lengths in her last three races – the Grade 2 Appalachian April 3 at Keeneland, Wonder Again and Belmont Oaks.

“The filly is doing well. The only thing with the filly that we need is perhaps a bit of pace to run at,” said Miguel Clement, assistant trainer to his father, Christophe Clement. “She's been a bit compromised in her last few starts by a lack of pace. Hopefully she can get a real pace to run at and be able to show her true ability.”

Joel Rosario will be in the irons from post 4.

Completing the field is Respect the Valleys' Out of Sorts, last out winner of the 1 1/16-mile Christiana Stakes July 3 at Delaware Park. Prior to that, the Dramedy daughter ran in back-to-back allowances at her home track of Pimlico Race Course, finishing second by a nose May 15 on the undercard of the Grade 1 Preakness, and first by a head June 13. Both races came against older horses.

Out of Sorts is trained by Brittany Russell, whose husband, jockey Sheldon Russell, comes in from Maryland to ride from outside post 8.

“It's sort of one of those now or never situations. She's doing great. She's been awesome on the turf this year. We think she'll love the distance. She's cool. She's a handy filly,” Brittany Russell said. “Sheldon can get her to shut off, but she also has that little bit of gas to her if he needs to use her a little bit. I think she's just the right type, and we want to find out if she's that kind.”

The Saratoga Oaks Invitational is carded nine on Sunday's 10-race program, which offers a first post of 1:05 p.m. Eastern. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the 40-day meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com

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