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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‘Naturally Talented’ Annex, Maiden Winner Avenue Among Eclipse Horses Pointed To Turf Triple Series

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, a racing partnership started in 2012 by Aron Wellman, has NYRA's Turf Triple series in mind for several of their talented sophomores.

Launched by NYRA in 2019, the Turf Triple series showcases the best 3-year-old turf runners.

The Turf Triple for sophomores begins with the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational at 1 1/4-miles [2,000 meters] on July 10 at Belmont Park. The series continues with the Grade 1, $1 million Saratoga Derby Invitational at 1 3/16-miles [1,900 meters] on August 7 at Saratoga Race Course and concludes with the $1 million Jockey Club Derby Invitational at 1 1/2-miles [2,400 meters] on September 18 at Belmont Park.

The Turf Triple series for fillies kicks off July 10 at Belmont with the Grade 1, $700,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational at 1 1/4-miles [2,000 meters]. The series continues with the Grade 3, $700,000 Saratoga Oaks Invitational at 1 3/16-miles [1,900 meters] on August 8 at Saratoga and is completed by the $700,000 Jockey Club Oaks at 1 3/8-miles [2,200 meters] on September 18 at Belmont.

Unbeaten in three lifetime starts at Gulfstream Park, dual stakes winner Annex broke his maiden going one mile on January 16 and followed with a victory in the 1 1/16-mile Palm Beach on February 1, where he came from 22 lengths off a torrid pace for a head win over stakes winners Scarlett Sky and Chess's Dream. He tracked a moderate pace from fourth in the one-mile Cutler Bay on March 27 en route to a neck win.

Annex, a son of third-crop sire Constitution trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott and owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners in partnership with LNJ Foxwoods, will make his next start in the Grade 2, $500,000 American Turf on May 1 at Churchill Downs en route to the Belmont Derby.

“He will run in the American Turf and from there hopefully go into the Turf Triple series,” Wellman said. “The pace was pretty fast in the Palm Beach but he made up all of that ground and deserves a lot of credit for making such a big run. The pace was against us in the Cutler Bay, so he had to show some versatility and overcome a slow pace, which he did.

“He's naturally talented, but still a bit green and not focused,” Wellman continued. “As he matures and develops, I think you'll see him get even better.”

Wellman said the ownership team has long considered the Turf Triple series a potential target for Annex.

“He's a high energy horse and we're hoping that he continues to progress to where we can still consider these races,” said Wellman. “Our goal all along was to point for these races. He's certainly bred to handle the distance and everything points to him being able to excel going nine furlongs and beyond.”

While Annex has yet to race past 1 1/16 miles, recent maiden winner Avenue, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners in partnership with Robert V. LaPenta, William Freeman and Michael Valdes, graduated at nine furlongs on April 8 at Keeneland by four lengths.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, the Quality Road colt finished second and fifth in two starts against maiden special weight company at Gulfstream Park, before shipping to Kentucky for his first career win.

Wellman said the decisive victory will propel him to graded stakes company in the Grade 2, $200,000 Pennine Ridge on May 29 at Belmont Park. The Pennine Ridge-Belmont Derby double has been swept recently by Oscar Performance [2017] and Catholic Boy [2018].

“From Day One we knew he would go two turns,” Wellman said. “At Gulfstream, the turf course is tight and on the speed-favoring side, so a mile and a sixteenth plays more like a mile. We had a lot of confidence in him going into his win at Keeneland, a course that he would be better suited for. We'll likely point him for the Pennine Ridge and from there on to the Turf Triple series.”

Bred by Woodford Thoroughbreds, Avenue is out of the graded stakes-placed Dixie Union mare Magic Union who also produced graded stakes-placed Tizamagician. He was bought for $450,000 from the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Another rising turf star for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners is Aviano, owned in partnership with William T. Freeman and Valdes, who was third in an off-the-turf allowance event at Keeneland on April 10. After a trio of strong placings, the son of Medaglia d'Oro broke his maiden at fourth asking going 1 1/16 miles on February 28 at Gulfstream Park defeating highly regarded Alexander Valley by a neck.

“He's definitely a quality horse,” Wellman said. “We tried facing winners and it got rained off the turf. He's one that we would like to think could get into the series, but how we get there we're still unsure.”

A $775,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale purchase, Aviano is out of the multiple-stakes winning Rockport Harbor mare Bryan's Jewel.

In the 3-year-old filly department, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners color-bearer Con Lima is scheduled to return to grass after finishing fourth as the favorite in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks last out on March 27 on the main track.

Wellman said Con Lima, who is owned in partnership with Joseph Graffeo, Del Toro, Erik Nikolaus and Troy Johnson, will remain in Florida for and target the $75,000 Honey Ryder on May 1 at Gulfstream Park going 1 1/16 miles.
“We tried to see if she could be as effective on the dirt, but she proved that she is definitely superior on grass,” Wellman said. “She'll stay in Florida for the time being and point for the first of May with the intention of possibly going to New York in the summer.”

Bred in Texas, the daughter of Commissioner previously raced for trainer Carlos David, for whom she broke her maiden by 5 ¼ lengths last summer at Gulfstream Park. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners purchased a majority of the filly following the maiden score and transferred her to Pletcher.

Con Lima ran second in off-the-turf editions of the P.G. Johnson at Saratoga and the Our Dear Peggy at Gulfstream. She picked up three turf victories this winter in Florida, including stakes triumphs in the Ginger Brew on January 2 and the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride on February 27, where she was elevated to first via disqualification.

Spanish Loveaffair, who was disqualified from victory in the Herecomesthebride, is owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners in partnership with Michael Hernon and Gary Barber. The daughter of Karakontie enjoyed a successful 2-year-old campaign, which included a win in the Sharp Susan on August 29 at Gulfstream Park and a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Jessamine at Keeneland for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse.

Last out, Spanish Loveaffair was sixth in the one-mile Grade 2 Appalachian on April 3 at Keeneland

“She never lifted a hoof that day, but she was dealing with a sinus infection,” Wellman said. “Thankfully we put that behind her and it explained her race at Keeneland. We'll see how she does in the near future.”

Mia Martina was eased in her dirt debut in the Grade 3 Gazelle on April 3 at Aqueduct. Trained by Graham Motion, the daughter of second-crop sire Not This Time won her first two career starts and made her stakes debut when a late-rallying fourth in the Grade 3 Florida Oaks on March 6 at Tampa Bay Downs.

Wellman said Mia Martina, owned in partnership with Gianni Fittipaldi, will likely point for the Grade 3, $200,000 Wonder Again on June 3 at Belmont Park, a key prep for the Belmont Oaks Invitational on July 10.

“The Gazelle was an experiment to see if she could be as potent on dirt as she is on turf, which didn't work out. She could potentially come back in the Wonder Again,” Wellman said.

This year, past winners of Turf Triple series races for fillies are incentivized by a pair of lucrative bonus opportunities at the upcoming Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course meets.

The “New York Stakes Turf Bonus” will provide $315,000 to the owner and $35,000 to the trainer of any previous winner of the Belmont Oaks, Saratoga Oaks or Jockey Club Oaks who captures the 2021 edition of the Grade 2, $750,000 New York, a 10-furlong turf test for older fillies and mares to be held June 4 at Belmont.

The “Flower Bowl Bonus” will provide $300,000 to the owner and $30,000 to the trainer of any previous winner of the Belmont Oaks, Saratoga Oaks or Jockey Club Oaks, who captures the Grade 1, $600,000 Flower Bowl, an 11-furlong test for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up on September 4 at Saratoga. The Flower Bowl is a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” event offering a berth in the Grade 1 Filly and Mare Turf in November at Del Mar.

Eligible to cash in on the bonus this year are Godolphin homebred Antoinette, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, who won the 2020 Saratoga Oaks and Lael Stables' Magic Attitude, conditioned by Arnaud Delacour, who bested Antoinette in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks.

For more information on the Turf Triple series, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/turf-triple-series.

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Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Winner Fire At Will Back To Grass, Aims For New York’s Turf Triple Series

Three Diamonds Farm's Fire At Will eyes a return to grass for his next start with the intention on making an eventual appearance in the Turf Triple series.

Trained by Mike Maker, the son of Declaration of War capped a stellar 2-year-old campaign with a victory in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland. Last out, Fire At Will switched to dirt in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on Feb. 27 at Gulfstream Park but finished a distant eighth.

Jordan Wycoff, who manages Three Diamonds with his father Kirk Wycoff, said the Grade 2, $500,000 American Turf on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs could be his next start with the intention of spring boarding into the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational on July 10 – the first leg of the Turf Triple series.

“He will be back on the grass and we're looking at some of these grass races, but we're thinking the American Turf on Derby weekend would be a logical spot to then jump into the Turf Triple series,” Wycoff said. “We wanted him to try the dirt again and that question was answered and now we want to get him to the path that was the goal for him.”

Implemented by NYRA in 2019 as the turf equivalent of the Triple Crown series, with all the legs contested at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course, the Belmont Derby Invitational will again launch the male division of the Turf Triple series that encompasses the Saratoga Derby this summer and the Jockey Club Derby during the Belmont fall meet.

Fire At Will has been back to work since his last start, recording two breezes over the Gulfstream Park main track. Last Saturday, he went five-eighths in 1:00.17 over the South Florida oval, the third fastest of 47 recorded works at the distance.

“All is well. It was a big ask especially off the layoff, but we clearly know that he will be a grass horse going forward,” Wycoff said.

Through a record of 5-3-0-0, Fire At Will broke his maiden in an off-the-turf edition of the With Anticipation on September 2 at Saratoga before winning the Grade 3 Pilgrim over the inner turf at Belmont Park, where he beat next-out stakes winner Step Dancer.

Bred in Kentucky by Troy Rankin, Fire At Will is out of the Kitten's Joy mare Flirt making him a close relative to Grade 1-winner Decorated Invader. He was bought for $97,000 from the Select Sales consignment at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

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