The 21st Running of The BEL Derby Invitational-G1
Saturday, July 8, 2023
BEL Race #5 $750.000
3YOs 122 Lbs 11/4 {Inner Turf}
#1 Martinez (Royalty Stables/M. Franco): Gelding has only the maiden-breaker to his credit, but he’s graded-placed on both surfaces. Last race proved he belonged on the lawn, and he’s worked well in preparation for this assignment. Should save a ton of ground, but he’ll need luck navigating traffic when the money is on the line.
#2 On Fire (Mb Stables/P. Lopez): A winner of four of his six starts this season, G2 winner couldn’t run down the DH-winning duo in his last. Obviously loves the lawn and he’s done nothing wrong since we last saw him; he’ll have to hope the extra ground results in the duo from last time coming back to him a bit.
#3 Greeks Get It (Arindel/Mario Gutierrez): One of the DH duo mentioned above, that pair were four ahead of the rest of the field in the G2 PEN Mile. Has the speed to sit close and should be able to get the first crack at the pacesetter(s) when the jock pushes the button. Hard to argue with a horse that’s on a six-race streak, and he seems poised to keep the streak going.
#4 Sinning Black (Night Mare Racing/J.C. Ferrer): Maiden-winner presented himself well in his first spin on the lawn. That 3rd-place finish warrants his entry here as he gets an extra eighth of a mile to work with this time. He’s run well against graded foes on the dirt, so this step up isn’t as daunting as it may seem.
#5 Hamilton Library (First Flight Stables/L. Detorri): Gelding was 0-2 on the lawn back in his juvenile season, but he found success on the main track early in his sophomore year. Took a G3 on the KYD trail and was most-recently 3rd in a $300.000 stake down at LS. Appears here for his first try on grass in ten months.
#6 Details Matter (Alydar Stables/J. Loveberry): Colt is 3-for-4 on the lawn but enters off of a 6th-place finish at CD last month. He was much closer to the pace in that one, so it would seem logical to expect him to settle closer to effort where he’s been successful before. Expect him to offer a much better account for himself this time.
#7 Grandish (Team 7 Illusions/G. Corrales): Gelding didn’t break his maiden until April, but he was a very respectable runner-up in a $150.000 CA-bred stake in his first effort against winners. Like others in here, he’ll need some help navigating some traffic as he likes to sit well off of the pace; however, more ground may be just what he’s looking for.
#8 Solar Coast (Smokey Stover/D.E. Centeno): Beat the rail-horse in a very sharp 1:45 in the G2 Pennine Ridge last time. That win was his 2nd stake, 1st graded, of 2023, and he may be ready to put a “bad” spring behind him. In the middle of the starting gate, he should clear the majority of those inside of him rather easily, but there’s other speed outside too. A logical contender, regardless of the pace set-up.
#9 Hurly Road (Establo Pichon/R.W. Walcott): Gelding is 0-for-2 on turf; however, both of those efforts were going much shorter than this 10-furlong trip. Almost got himself in the KYD with a very close 4th-place effort in G1 FL Derby, and he’s had success on the main track, so it’s a bit of a surprise he shows up here.
#10 War Time Magic (TwinTowersRacing/J. Lezcano): One of six in here yet to register a win on turf, he did have two placings in MSW events in two starts on the grass. Won a 9-furlong MSW at CT before being beaten only a length in a N1X at WO last out. Comes back to the turf for a reason, presumably, and appears to be just hitting his stride.
#11 Drinkin Creepin (Mb Stables/L. Saez): Last year’s BC Juv Turf Sprint champion, this gelding just keeps winning. His only loss this season was on KYD day at CD when he was drawn in the 12-hole, and he ran his eyeballs out in a gutty, runner-up effort. Was in the DH with the three-horse at PEN and appears to be capable of whatever the conditioner assigns him. The horse to beat.
#12 Brooklyn (Winning Link Stables/F. Geroux): Gelding broke his maiden in October but couldn’t clear the winner’s hurdle until last time in the $150.000 Snow Chief. He timed his rally just right that day, and he may benefit from the extra furlong he gets this time, but he’s another that will need traffic help.
#13 Fear Me Not (Mb Stables/J.R. Velazquez): Colt is a G2 winner, and multiple GSP runner on dirt who only missed the KYD because his trainer had too many qualified. This is his first spin on the lawn, and, given the quality of his two stablemates drawn inside of him, you best believe the conditioner thinks he can compete. Gets caught wide this time, but a big effort would not be a surprise.
Final Analysis: The first G1 restricted to 3yo turf routers drew an excellent field. Although they’ve taken turns on each other a little bit, there are a few in here that appear to be more logical than others. We’ll eat some chalk with the 11-8-3 but wouldn’t be too surprised if someone else put their nose down on the wire. Good luck to all involved in The BEL Derby Invitational-G1!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
