O'Brien brings in Bolshoi Ballet, Santa Barbara for turf stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – The Aidan O’Brien-trained pair of Bolshoi Ballet, seventh as the favorite in the Group 1 Epsom Derby, and Santa Barbara, runner-up in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh in Ireland, arrived in New York Sunday night for starts in Saturday’s Belmont Derby and Belmont Oaks, respectively.

O’Brien has sent runners for five of the six runnings of the Belmont Derby, winning it in 2016 with Deauville. He won the 2018 Belmont Oaks with Athena and finished second in 2019 with Just Wonderful.

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In addition to Bolshoi Ballet, the field for the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby is expected to include Cellist, Du Jour, Hard Love, Hidden Enemy, Palazzi, Safe Conduct, Sainthood, and Tokyo Gold.

The field for the Grade 1, $700,000 Belmont Oaks is expected to include Cirona, Con Lima, Gam’s Mission, Higher Truth, Nazuna, Plum Ali, and Spanish Loveaffair.