G1 Belmont Oaks Invitational Winner Fionn possible for G2 $500K Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational

• G1 Belmont Oaks Invitational winner Fionn possible for G2 $500K Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational
• Test Score nets career-best 90 BSF for G1 Belmont Derby Invitational score
• Think Big passes two-turn test with flying colors in G3 Kelso
• Obliteration earns career-best 91 BSF for G3 Sanford
• Zulu Kingdom may remain at one mile for G2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame

George Messina and Michael Lee’s newly-minted Grade 1-winner Fionn was a determined nose winner of Saturday’s $500,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational, a nine-furlong Mellon turf route for sophomore fillies during the July 4th Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course. 

Trained by dual Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox, the Twirling Candy dark bay stalked five lengths off the pace in fifth under Flavien Prat through the early stages and followed the run of heavy favorite Nitrogen down the backstretch before angling three-wide into the lane. Nitrogen dug in to overtake the pacesetting Opulent Restraint late, but Fionn had the momentum on the outside and got her nose down first on the wire in a final time of 1:44.84, a course record for the Spa’s Mellon turf. Fionn was awarded a career-high 91 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort. 

“She just keeps coming and obviously she needed the whole mile and an eighth to get by,” Cox said. “She’s matured a great bit mentally and I think that’s the biggest thing we’ve seen with her. She’s always been a really good mover – light on her feet, athletic – and she’s figuring it out now. She hasn’t had much early speed in her races, but I thought Flavien did a good job of keeping Nitrogen in their sights.” 

Cox added Fionn was in good order on Sunday morning, and that he will work backwards from the nine-furlong Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II in October at Keeneland, with a logical steppingstone being the 1 3/16-mile Grade 2, $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks on August 9 here. 

“She’s doing good,” Cox said. “She galloped out well and looks great this morning. She’ll stay here, and the Saratoga Oaks is in play. I think the QEII at Keeneland is our main goal, but how we get there I don’t know yet. Kentucky Downs is in play, too. We can take a little bit of a deep breath with her now that she’s a Grade 1 winner.” 

A $75,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Fionn is now a dual graded stakes-winner with over $600,000 in total purse earnings. 

As for upcoming stakes action at the traditional 40-day Saratoga meet, Cox noted he has a handful of contenders likely for prestigious Spa events, including reigning Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Immersive [G1 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 19], dual graded stakes-placed Nash [G2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt on July 19] and Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks-winner Good Cheer [G1 Alabama pres. by Keeneland Sales on August 16].

Test Score nets career-best 90 BSF for G1 Belmont Derby Inv. score

Amerman Racing’s Kentucky homebred Test Score was awarded a career-best 90 Beyer Speed Figure for his 1 1/4-length victory in Friday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational, a nine-furlong Mellon turf route for sophomores during the July 4th Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course. 

Trained by Graham Motion, the son of Lookin At Lucky stalked in third throughout under regular pilot Manny Franco and pounced at the right time to overtake the pacesetting Tank in the lane and fend off the bids of late runners World Beater and Luther in a final time of 1:45.66. He was awarded a career-best 90 Beyer Speed Figure for the win.

Motion said Test Score has returned to his home base of Fair Hill in fine fettle. 

“He went home the next morning and seems good,” Motion said. “He puts a lot into his races. He really is just a very hard-knocking, hard-trying horse. He does what he has to do.”

Motion and Amerman Racing teamed up to win last year's Belmont Derby with Trikari.

Motion said Test Score, who adds to previous graded success in the Grade 3 Transylvania in April at Keeneland, could come under consideration for the local Grade 1, $750,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational on August 2 next. 

“We’ll definitely consider running back up here in the next one. I do think he might benefit from a little more time between races just because he puts a lot into it and he gets himself a little wound up on race day,” Motion said. “I want to be careful not to run him back too quickly, but we’ll definitely consider the next one.”

Motion has more stakes opportunity to look forward to this week at the Spa as Wathnan Racing’s Group 1-placed Heredia is the 3-1 morning favorite in the first of two divisions of Thursday’s Listed $135,000 De La Rose, a one-mile inner turf test restricted to older fillies and mares who have not won a graded stake in 2024-25. 

The 6-year-old Dark Angel mare enters from a closing third in the Grade 3 Beaugay on May 4 at Belmont at the Big A when one length back of the victorious Dynamic Pricing, who exited to win the Grade 1 Just a Game presented by Resolute Racing on June 6 here. 

Heredia, who earned a 91 Beyer for the Beaugay effort, was making her first start in more than a year and a half since finishing third in the Group 1 Sun Chariot – won by next-out Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf-winner Inspiral – in October 2023 at Newmarket for trainer Richard Hannon. 

“She’s doing great. I had her up here for the last meet [Belmont Stakes Racing Festival], and it rained so bad that I just didn’t feel like running her on really soft turf,” Motion explained. “Hopefully we don’t get into that situation again. I think this is a good spot for her. I thought her last race was a really good effort off the long layoff. She’s a classy filly and she’s run against some top mares.”

Heredia, who won the Group 3 Atalanta in September 2023 at Sandown Park, will emerge from post 4-of-8 in rein to Franco. 

Think Big passes two-turn test with flying colors in G3 Kelso

Godolphin’s Kentucky homebred Think Big earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure for his rail-rallying score under Jose Ortiz in Saturday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Kelso, a two-turn inner turf mile for older horses, at the July 4th Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Michael Stidham, the 4-year-old Twirling Candy bay had not traveled two turns since a pacesetting eighth in a nine-furlong Keeneland allowance on dirt in October. At that time, Stidham decided to switch surfaces with Think Big and cut him back in distance – a decision that proved prudent with his charge taking down both the Grade 2 Shakertown in April at Keeneland the Grade 2 Turf Sprint in May at Churchill Downs.

Think Big endured a troubled trip as the favorite in the 5 1/2-furlong Grade 1 Jaipur on June 8 here when seventh over good going but was back to winning ways on Saturday with a surging run to the outside of retreating pacesetter Arzak before racing to the inside of a game Intellect to notch the one-length score in a final time of 1:32.81. The winning effort registered a 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

Stidham noted he was concerned into the final turn when a pace-pressing Donegal Momentum stumbled in front of the field.

“I don't think anybody knew what was happening there,” Stidham said. “He didn't have anyone in front of him to clip heels with, it was a strange occurrence that you don't see that often and it happened right in front of us. I'm glad that horse is OK and I'm glad that he didn't fall.

“It looked like we lost some momentum from the incident, and I really thought, watching the race, that we were in trouble,” Stidham continued. “I didn't think that Jose had any horse under him because he was kind of niggling at him on the turn and he didn't really look like he was going anywhere. But when he switched leads and straightened away into the stretch, he found a seam and re-broke again.”

Stidham said the most impressive part of Think Big’s performance came in the final furlong.

“You'll see horses that are really good sprinters, you'll see good milers, but rarely do you see a horse that has the same turn-of-foot going 5 1/2-furlongs as they do going a mile - and that's what he showed yesterday,” Stidham said. “He has a huge stride and when he gets into gear late in a race, he lengthens his stride so well, he just eats up ground and can get to them quickly.”

Stidham said Think Big’s effort could potentially earn him a shot in the one-mile Grade 1, $750,000 FanDuel Fourstardave on August 2, a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile in November at Del Mar – a race he is keen to point towards with the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint contested at an abbreviated five furlongs at Del Mar.

However, he said he will speak with the connections this week to also discuss lucrative options for Think Big at Kentucky Downs, including the six-furlong Grade 2, $2 million [$1 million KTDF] Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint on August 30 and the Grade 3, $2.5 million [$1 million KTDF] Mint Millions on September 6.

“There's the Fourstardave in a month, so that's certainly in the mix. Everything is on the table right now,” Stidham said. “This is what we were hoping for when we tried the mile, that these new doors will open up because the thought of running five furlongs at the end of the year at the Breeders' Cup was not a good option. Although he's been successful at 5 1/2-furlongs, I think five [furlongs] is a little too short and I wasn't really looking forward to that. Hopefully, if he's healthy and doing well, this helps us with running him in the Breeders' Cup at the end of the year, going a mile.”

Think Big, out of the stakes-winning Street Sense mare Always Thinking, has banked $809,035 via an 11-6-0-1 record. Stidham noted the talented gelding shipped back to Delaware Park overnight and was in good order this morning.

Stidham will send out another promising Kentucky homebred for Godolphin in Race 11 on Thursday at Colonial Downs as Montador [post 5, Francisco Arrieta] switches to turf in a one-mile maiden special weight for 3-year-olds and up.

The Nyquist sophomore colt debuted in a 6 1/2-furlong sprint over the main track in August at Colonial Downs, landing 1 3/4-lengths back of Pascaline, who exited that event to win the Laurel Futurity.

Montador has worked steadily over the Delaware dirt towards his return and traveled to Fair Hill on June 30 to breeze five-furlongs in 1:01.80 over good turf.

The nicely-bred colt is out of the Lady Montdore, who won the 2018 Grade 2 Glens Falls at Saratoga for trainer Tom Albertrani. His third dam is multiple graded stakes-winner Hystericalady [23-11-4-2, $2.3 million], who captured the 2007 Grade 1 Humana Distaff.

“Montador was one of last year's 2-year-olds that we thought was amongst the top 2-year-olds we had in the barn,” Stidham said. “He had the one start and got injured out of that race, so he's been off for quite a while. 

“We're getting him back and we've experimented a little with him,” Stidham continued. “His dam was a winner on grass, and we were able to work him on the turf, and we thought he really finished up well and galloped out good on the grass. So, we'll give him a shot.”

Stidham said he expects a good effort from Montador despite the lengthy layoff.

“He's the type that gets a lot out of his morning works, so he's as close to ready as we would want to have him. He's ready to go,” Stidham said.

Stidham noted the regally-bred horses he oversees for Godolphin more than make the early mornings worthwhile.

“That's what you get with Godolphin. Every summer when they walk those 2-year-olds into your barn, you feel like it's Christmas morning - you just never know what you might be getting, and it's certainly helping to keep me in the business a little longer,” said Stidham, with a laugh.

Obliteration earns career-best 91 BSF for G3 Sanford

Leland Ackerley Racing’s Obliteration impressed again when improving to 2-for-2 in Saturday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Sanford, a six-furlong sprint for juveniles, during the July 4th Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the Violence bay graduated by a widening 7 1/2 lengths sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on June 12 at Churchill Downs, and he upped that margin to 10 1/2 lengths at the Spa in a final time of 1:10.65 – his Beyer Speed Figure jumping from 77 to 91. 

“He looks like he came out of it good,” said Scott Blasi, assistant to the first time Sanford-winning Asmussen. “He’s just a very talented colt, precocious, and hopefully he will continue to improve.” 

Obliteration broke very sharply from post 2 under Flavien Prat and led every step of the way through splits of 22.74 seconds, 45.56, 57.56 on the fast dirt while turning back the pressure from local Listed Tremont runner-up Blinging It Back to win in dominant fashion. 

“He’s always been very forward. He proved that in his first start, and showed that was no fluke by coming back and running better than that,” said Blasi. “He broke so sharply and made it a two-horse race before pulling away.” 

Local graded options for juveniles include the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special on August 2, as well as the seven-furlong Grade 1, $300,000 Spendthrift Farm Hopeful on September 1.

Zulu Kingdom may remain at one mile for G2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame

Five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown was rewarded with a three-quarter-length score when keeping Zulu Kingdom at one mile in Friday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Manila, for sophomores on the inner turf, during the July 4th Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course.

Brown opted for the Manila over the more lucrative nine-furlong Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational, which was contested one race later, and believes it was the right move.

“I think so. I was very happy with his race,” Brown said. “I’m very pleased with how he came out of it. We will probably point him to the Hall of Fame later in the summer meet.”

The Grade 2, $400,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame is another turf mile for sophomores contested on August 1 at the Spa. The Irish-bred Ten Sovereigns ridgling is campaigned by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, William Strauss and Michael Caruso, and has earned $910,387 through a 6-for-7 record, including a win in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 1 American Turf in May at Churchill Downs.

Brown was pleased as Stephanie Seymour Brant’s Irish-bred Opulent Restraint earned a Grade 1 placing when a three-quarter-length third in Saturday’s $500,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational, a nine-furlong Mellon turf test for sophomore fillies.

The Dubawi gray carved out fractions of 23.12 seconds, 46.75 and 1:10.10 on the firm turf under Hall of Famer Joel Rosario, and made multiple graded stakes-winner Nitrogen work to go by late. That rival, who entered from five consecutive stakes wins, took command within the final furlong before being nailed by Fionn who stopped the clock in a course record 1:44.84.

“That was great, I was very, very pleased. Looking back at the middle of the race, I wish she could’ve maybe slowed it down just a little bit more,” said Brown. “Maybe she would’ve been there in a three-way photo finish, but nevertheless, her race was very solid and her best performance yet. She is a horse who appears to be on the improve.”

The natural local progression would be 1 3/16-mile Grade 2, $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational on August 9. 

“Yes. I’ll consider that,” said Brown. 

Never worse than fourth, Opulent Restraint is 6-2-1-1 with a win in the 1 1/16-mile Listed Chelsey Flower in October at Belmont at the Big A.