Lael Stables owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson, who won the 2006 Kentucky Derby (G1) with the ill-fated Barbaro, have also found success in another top race for 3-year-olds: the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T). They won for the first time with Check the label when it was called the Garden City Stakes in 2010 and enjoyed a second win a decade later with Magical Attitude under the current name of the race.
On July 6, the Jacksons are aiming for a third win in the $500,000 race when trainer Cherie DeVaux starts their talent She feels beautiful against eight other 3-year-old mares in the 1 3/16-mile outfield test in Belmont at Big A meet. She faced a top competition including three foreign riders: Fun with flags , Secret Satire And Cinderella’s Dream .
Winner of her first two starts last year, including the Natalma Stakes (G1T) at HoneysuckleShe Feels Pretty started as the favorite in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) at Santa Anita Park and ran a wide third, without cover, beaten half a length.
Videotapes
Freshened up over the winter and early spring, she won by 5 3/4 lengths in the Hilltop Stakes on May 17 at Pimlico Race Track in her only start at age 3. That race, like her starts in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and Natalama, was at a distance of one mile, leaving her in question at the longer distance on Saturday.
“We’ll see if she can handle it,” DeVaux said. “Right now, she doesn’t seem to be affected by the distance, so it will be interesting to see how she handles it.”
She Feels Pretty, favored at 2-1 odds in the morning under regular jockey John Velazquez, is one of two starters for DeVaux, who also runs Blue Heaven Farm System B a 15-1 outsider under Tyler Gaffalione.
Threats from abroad
Godolphin’s Cinderella’s Dream is the 9-2 second choice after finishing seventh in the One Thousand Guineas (G1) at Newmarket on May 5 for trainer Charlie Appleby. Appleby’s jockey William Buick will be in town on Saturday to ride the horse Shamardal mare and Legend of time in the $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) earlier.
“Cinderella’s Dream did well in Dubai, so she’s adapted to that flat, round style of racing,” said Appleby. “I thought she ran a solid race in the Guineas and I felt the step up to this trip would be appropriate. Her training at Saratoga, where she’s been for a while, has gone well. She’s done everything she needs to do there. I feel she’ll be a big rider on Saturday. She’s got a lot of experience and the fast ground will suit her as well. Those narrow tracks will suit her, because she’s a neat mare.”
She is one of two starters on Saturday to leave the Group 1 race in Britain, the other being Guy Brook Secret Satire who finished 10th in the Oaks (G1) on May 31 at Epsom Downs after winning the Musidora Stakes (G3) at York, an earlier start for trainer Andrew Balding.
Fun With Flags came to the United States via France, where she placed 3rd. Trainee Jerome Reynier races for owners Madaket Stables, Michael Kisber, Gainesway Stable and Erika Gilliar.
Besides She Feels Pretty, other top US-trained runners include Edgewood Stakes (G2T) winner Dynamic price 2023 Jessamine Stakes (G2T) Winner Buchu and Wonder Again Stakes (G2T) winner Segesta .
Item: Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational S (G1T)
Belmont at Big ASaturday, July 6, 2024, Race 9
- Class I
- 1 3/16 minutes
- Outside lawn
- $500,000
- 3 year old mare
- 4:42 PM (local time)
