Oscar Performance will try to regain form in Pennine Ridge

ELMONT, N.Y. – Oscar Performance, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner, will seek to rebound from a pair of disappointing efforts to begin his 3-year-old campaign when he heads a field of eight entered for Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Pennine Ridge Stakes at Belmont Park.

Oscar Performance went 3 for 4 at age 2, including a win in the Grade 3 Pilgrim here and the BC Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita. In two starts this year, he has finished fifth, beaten three lengths, in the Transylvania at Keeneland, and last in the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Brian Lynch felt Oscar Performance floundered over the rain-soaked turf course at Churchill Downs. Lynch has really liked what he’s seen from Oscar Performance in his last two works, including a five-furlong move in 1:01.74 on Sunday in company with Turbo Street.

“His training has given me no excuses not to want to run,” Lynch said. “I feel really good about it.”

The Pennine Ridge, the local prep for the $1.2 million Belmont Derby on July 8, drew runners from multiple locales. Bowies Hero, the winner of the Singletary Stakes at Santa Anita, ships in from Southern California for Phil D’Amato, while Muggsamatic, the winner of the Sophomore Turf at Tampa Bay Downs in his last start, ships in from Monmouth for trainer Kathleen O’Connell.

Prize Fight, third in the Sophomore Turf, comes in from Kentucky for Mike Maker, while New York-based runners Ticonderoga, Secretary At War, and Makarios complete the field entered for turf. Bonus Points was entered for the main track only.