Catch a Glimpse on Saturday extended her winning streak to eight and earned a return trip to the Breeders’ Cup with her victory in the US$1.25 million Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes for three-year-old turf fillies at Belmont Park.
The Oaks was a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race, guaranteeing the winner a spot in the US$2 million Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, on Nov. 5.
Catch a Glimpse won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly Turf in October last year at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky, in her usual front-running style.
In the Belmont Oaks, Catch a Glimpse set the pace as expected, with Coolmore keeping her company.
Turning for home, Catch a Glimpse sprinted clear of the pack and held off a late run from Time and Motion by a half-length.
Florent Geroux was aboard for trainer Mark Casse as Catch a Glimpse stretched out to 1.25 miles for the first time.
“That was a question a lot of people had,” Geroux said. “Down deep, I knew she could do it.”
Catch a Glimpse finished in 1 minute, 59.87 seconds, paying US$8.80, US$5.30 and US$4.10. Time and Motion returned US$5 and US$4.30, while Coolmore held on for third, paying US$11.40 to show.
In other stakes results, Deauville won his US debut, the US$1.25 million Belmont Derby for three-year-olds on the turf. The Irish-bred colt, which had previously raced exclusively in Europe, beat Highland Sky by a neck.
Jamie Spencer rode for trainer Aidan O’Brien as Deauville ran the 1.25 miles in 2 minutes, 0.51 seconds, paying US$14.60 to win.
Effinex defended his title in the US$500,000 Suburban Handicap, beating Samraat by a neck.
Best known for finishing second to American Pharoah in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, Effinex sat second in the Suburban while Samraat set the pace. They battled right to the wire before Effinex prevailed for his ninth win in 24 starts.
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