Full fields likely for Belmont Derby, Oaks

ELMONT, N.Y. – The New York Racing Association has released the invitation lists for the $1.25 million Belmont Derby and $1 million Oaks.

Fourteen horses have been invited to participate in each of the Grade 1, 1 1/4-mile turf races scheduled for July 9 at Belmont Park. According to NYRA officials, all of the horses invited to the Derby have paid the $7,500 entry fee that is due by Wednesday. Twelve of the Oaks invitees are paid up, while the decisions of the other two are pending.

Although payment of the entry fee doesn’t guarantee participation, it does show intent. If openings develop in either field, additional invitations will be extended.

The Belmont Derby and Oaks were created in 2014 when the Jamaica and Garden City, Grade 1 races at 1 1/8 miles on turf, were moved from the Belmont fall meet to July, their names were changed, and their purses were doubled. Part of the intent was to encourage participation from European-based runners.

In 2014, the Belmont Derby had four European-trained starters. Last year, it had two. Aidan O’Brien has two invitees this season, and Richard Hannon has one.

Beacon Rock, trained by O’Brien, is a maiden who finished second as the favorite in the Group 2 King Edward VII at Royal Ascot on June 17. Hannon’s horse, Humphrey Bogart, finished sixth in the King Edward. O’Brien’s second horse, Bravery, is a maiden who last ran in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly.

The 2014 Oaks had three European-trained starters. Last year, there were two. This year, four are invited.

Alice Springs, trained by O’Brien, recently was third in the Group 1 Coronation at Royal Ascot. Turret Rocks, trained by James Bolger, most recently was seventh in the Group 1 Epsom Oaks.

Dermot Weld has Simannka, who has not started since winning a maiden race at Galway last September. Magnanime is a French-based maiden who most recently finished fifth, beaten two lengths, in a Group 1 race at Deauville for trainer Fabrice Chappet-Frankreich.

Trainer Chad Brown has four invitees to the Derby, including Camelot Kitten, who has won the Grade 2 American Turf and Grade 3 Pennine Ridge in his last two starts. Brown also has American Turf runner-up Beach Patrol, recent optional-claiming winner Billy’s Kitten, and Call Provision, a close third in the Pennine Ridge.

In the Oaks, Catch a Glimpse is expected to put her seven-race winning streak on the line. In her most recent start for trainer Mark Casse, she defeated males in the $500,000 Penn Mile. Casse is also expected to start Penn Mile runner-up Airoforce in the Belmont Derby.

◗ Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Mother Goose, a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies, is expected to offer a nice matchup between Kentucky Oaks third-place finisher Lewis Bay, who is trained by Brown; Grade 1 winner Rachel’s Valentina, who races for Todd Pletcher; and Lightstream, who is undefeated in three starts for Brian Lynch.