While there will only be a total of eight trainers staring one another down in the walking ring prior to this years Grade I BEL Oaks, thirteen thoroughbred fillies will be looking to make their mark on the seventeenth anniversary of this affair.

• BEL Oaks ( Grade I ) Purse $750.000
• Belmont Park – For Three year old Fillies
• Mile and a Quarter- Inner Turf course
• July 6th, 2019.

Initially known as The Garden City event which was run at a nine furlong distance up until 2013 when Riggins Racing won back to back seasons, the race was stretched out an additional furlong, changed to the BEL Oaks, and carried a $1,000.000 prize purse. Chili King Stables won both 2014/15 titles of this event, while over the last two seasons, both Good Line ( Mb Stables ) and Quiver Pond ( Estero Farms ) have taken their victory here, and walked away with the BC Fillies & Mares Turf race later in the season.

So lets run this down with trainers in mind. Of course it would be expected for Dan from Mb Stables to send out a trio of runners, breaking from the two, eleven and twelve holes. The first of which is Keep The Treasure, a three time winner in eight career starts, and he may have just been a last minute decision to find a third. No stakes experience to speak of and its a major jump to the Grade I level. Shows early speed and works dictate that as well, but its a chancy proposition. Save your money. The other two runners will be Diluted and Easier Said. Diluted did capture the Gr. III Sweetest Chant over a good footing, nudging out Easier Said by a head at the wire. That’s when Diluted was with Aer Stables, so the two may work in tandem to make the most of the race. Easier Said has the better record since the Sweetest Chant winning two more Graded company events, but both have experience riders who should have both of them vying down the lane.

Three other trainers will be sending out a pair of entries for this affair. First off there is Chili King Stables with the entries of Island Breeze (7) and Illustrious Cat (13). Island Breeze is coming off the shelf for this trainer after he was just purchased seven days prior to this event. The grass hasn’t even gotten green under her feet at her new surroundings, and I feel she is being thrown to the lionesses of this field. Fell back in the Honeymoon Stakes last time out and i still think she needs a little stability first. Illustrious Cat is a much better fit with this grouping and with the assistance of Alan Garcia up north, she took home back to back victories, one being the Grade II Nassau, and Garcia will guide her once again. Outside post may or may not play a factor if she is placed well in the opening quarter mile.

Two runners will be sent out by Diablo Diablo as well, those being Tightrope Walker (4) and Good For Nowt (6). Of this pairing my preference would be for either runner, as they seem to be evenly matched. Tightrope Walker was only taking her second start on the grass in her most recent Regret Stakes, and she closed to within a length by the wire in second. Numbers will be on the rise for her. As for Good For Nowt, she captured the Providencia Stakes two starts ago, and while she only placed fifth in the Gr. I Gamely last time out, her times were comparable for both events. Could be full of herself come race time.

Definitely groaning over the fact that Mb Stables is sending out three entries, Team 7 Illusions has decided to put two of his Cherokee Sunset foals into the mix on Saturday. Folsom Tradition will go from post five and even though she only broke her maiden two starts ago, she make a go showing in the Elaine Stakes missing by a head in second. Both those affairs were at the shorter 5/8 of a mile, and that should hopefully have here more alert here. His other entry will be Hopewell Tradition out of post eight. I like her chances a little better then her half sister. In her past six starts, her only out of the money race was when she left the turf, so this footing is her cash out ticket. Should be competitive right till the very end. Are we looking at starting a “tradition” here? hmmmm

As for the other four single entries we have Fractious with 46 And Two from the rail post. Attempted two Grade III level events right after coming over from Patterson, and did manage a third place finish in the Providencia behind Good For Nowt. Works look sharp enough for her to be considered for a possible minor share.

D J C Racing Stables will be sending out Cest And Me. Most recently a winner of the Gr. III Wonder Again Stakes at a mile and an eighth over this very inner turf course, that should give her and edge over many others who have never even set foot on this track in their career. Has two very sharp works since that victory to keep her on her toes, and could very well repeat here once again.

Starting for just the fifth race of her career, Holualoa from Smokey Stover has finished in the top three in all four of her previous starts. Still untested at the stakes level yet, her most recent was an Alw87 race at Churchill going nine panels, and she stayed consistently in second throughout that affair. Two sub 1:35 mile works over this track in the morning should not be overlooked. Could be the upsetter of the group and may get overlooked and turn out a nice price for her backers.

Final entry of this group is Proud Eights from Estero Farms. This trainer is looking to defend his title in this event winning it last year with Quiver Pond. This chestnut filly found a soft footing last time out in the Gr. III Edgewood at CD, and managed to take home a half a length victory. She would also earn a 97 SRF figure for her efforts, the highest number of this group in their last events. Looks to be another back to back winner of this event, and i give her top billing.

Duffer

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES