Plus Que Parfait to try turf again in Belmont Derby

Plus Que Parfait, winner of the Group 2 UAE Derby and the ninth-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, will return to the turf for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational, trainer Brendan Walsh confirmed Friday.

Plus Que Parfait has not run on the grass since he finished third over it in his career debut as a 2-year-old. Plus Que Parfait, who has not raced since the Kentucky Derby, has worked twice over the turf at Churchill and Walsh has been pleased with what he’s seen. The Belmont Derby is run at 1 1/4 miles.

“I think the distance will suit him also, and he seems to love the turf, so we’ll give it a shot,” said Walsh, who will have Tyler Gaffalione aboard to ride.

A full field of 14 3-year-olds is expected for the derby, including the duo of Blenheim Palace and Cape of Good Hope from the barn of trainer Aidan O’Brien; the quartet of Demarchelier, Digital Age, Rockemperor, and Standard Deviation for Chad Brown; Social Paranoia and Spinoff for Todd Pletcher; and English Bee, Henley’s Joy, Master Fencer, Moon Colony, and Seismic Wave.

A field of nine is expected for the $750,000 Belmont Oaks, including the Brown-trained trio of Cafe Americano, Cambier Parc, Newspaperofrecord; the pair of Coral Beach and Fleeting from O’Brien; and Concrete Rose, Dyna Passer, Jodie, and Olendon.

Entries for both races will be taken next Wednesday.