Brown and Motion each have two fillings in Belmont Oaks

news7g07/07/2023

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Brown and Motion each have two fillings in Belmont Oaks

With the big guns from England and Ireland edging through, the July 8 Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1T) renewal pits a pair of Chad Brown-trained nutcrackers and a duo from Graham Motion’s warehouse.

The nine-man field is certainly a solid one but its predominantly American composition is unusual in a race that has been a fertile field for global powerhouses Godolphin and Coolmore in recent years.

Coach Charlie Appleby finished second in 2022 with Godolphin’s With moonlight . Aidan O’Brien saddle for the 2021 winner, Santa Barbara , for Coolmore partners. Pandemic precautions prevented European participation in 2020 but O’Brien sent over How wonderful And Coral finished second and seventh in 2019 when four out of nine people started out as foreign visitors.

O’Brien, his Coolmore patrons, and jockey Ryan Moore scored their first race win in 2018 with Athena .

Absent those jugglers, Brown’s track record in the race stands out in the most recent renewal. He has won the event six times, including last year with McKulick and four consecutive years from 2012 to 2015. This year, his two fillings totaled five wins in six starts.

Registration for BloodHorse Daily

Aerosol , undefeated after three voyages, delivers Irish influence through genealogy. Bred in Kentucky by Ran Jan Racing, Quality Sugar child is the word Galileo mare Upward .

Prerequisites ONE start dirty word smart attack mare Etsu bred in Kentucky by Brereton Jones, placed fourth in its debut in Gulfstream Park in April, won at Belmont Park in May and won Wonder Again Stakes (G2T) in Belmont on June 11. Wonder Again is a natural local preparation for Belmont Oaks and Brown saddles. Lady Eli in 2015 and New money honey in 2017 to win both.

Motion’s fillings have their own solid credentials.

mission of joy via The joy of kittens get out smart attack mare Smart mission could be winning five races if she hadn’t clamped her heels and took third place in Edgewood Stakes (G2T) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day (G1). She’s been back since then to win the Regret Stake (G3T) on the same course on June 3 and previously put the Florida Oaks (G3T) in her winning column.

Motion said of Mission of Joy: “She was unlucky with Churchill starting over a few times, but she definitely made up for it last time.” “She really felt her worst when she tripped that day. She was back to normal and was shipped back from Kentucky in good condition.”

Motion also gets a first look at race day Beag Spirling . The Master Artisan filly was the group 3 winner in Ireland last October while coached by Jim Bolger and raced once, without a venue, in France this spring before being sent across the ocean. Motion says the Speirling Beag looks natural for the 1/4 mile test and will likely benefit from some dedication to the Belmont track surface.

“Obviously you wouldn’t mind having her,” he said. “She definitely looks like the kind of person who can handle that. But distance is something she’ll appreciate.”

While the big European guns, as noted, are helping the race through, the Oaks are not entirely free of foreign intrigue when coach James Stack moves in. poplar forest with Oisin Murphy accompanying him. Aspen Grove, by justification was last seen reported at the back of a 10-man field during the Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1) at Curragh May 28, but owner Craig Benick pinned hopes on her upset win in October. 8 years ago at the same racecourse.

Benick said: “Her victory last year went a mile at 2 years old. “Usually, the horses that can do that in Europe will be 10-hair horses. The trainer always thinks she’s going to be 10-hairs this year. This race is a natural place to go. try.”

Some others in the nine-seat field will also be looking for improvement, but others have flashed competitiveness here.

Papilio Wins Appalachian Shares in 2023 in Keeneland — Photo: Keeneland/Coady Photography

Papilio closes on wire in Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland

Bim fool One Sparkling banner coached by Mark Casse, won the Appalachian Stakes (G2T) at Keenelandthen placed fourth in Edgewood and second in Regret.

Casse said: “In her last start at Churchill, we were blocked and had nowhere to go for a while and the winner was far behind us. “We tried to knock her down but she gave up too much. With another ride, it will be an interesting race.”

The best for you ‘s daughter Muhaarar placed seventh in the Appalachian but only missed the Prerequisites due to running late in Wonder Again.

Filmed impressively And Freydis Red complete this field.

Strikingly Spun, a Spin hard coached by Joe Sharp, had a big leap in class but took second place, beaten by just a neck, in her most recent start 1 3/8 miles ahead of the older opponent.