Belmont: Believe You Can could be Breeders' Cup-bound after Tempted victory

ELMONT, N.Y. - Larry Jones wasn’t content with one stakes victory this weekend in New York.

One day after his 4-year-old filly Havre de Grace dominated the Grade 1, $350,000 Beldame Invitational at Belmont Park, his 2-year-old filly Believe You Can rolled to a 2 1/2-length victory in Sunday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Tempted Stakes.

Stalking the pace three wide under Gabriel Saez, Believe You Can rolled into contention approaching the quarter pole, then struck the front just outside the eighth pole before edging clear of Perennial Song, who finished second by four lengths over Georgie’s Angel. Colormesaichi and Select Cat completed the order of finish.

It was third consecutive victory for Believe You Can, a daughter of Proud Citizen owned and bred by Brereton Jones. Believe You Can covered six furlongs in 1:11.20. She returned $9.50 to win.

Larry Jones had Believe You Can entered in Saturday’s $75,000 Blue Hen Stakes at Delaware Park, but decided to run here to avoid having to face Grade 1 Spinaway winner Grace Hall.

Now, Jones must decide whether to try her two turns for the first time in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, take on males in the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint, or forget about the Breeders’ Cup altogether.

“We don’t know,’’ Jones said. “This leaves a lot of options open. We’ll have a lot of time to talk. I told Brereton this is a quality filly, and we’ve thought a lot of her.’’