Handicapping the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational

TSV Staff Selection —-

Race 8) 1&1/4 Mile. (Inner Turf) Belmont Oaks Invitational S. Grade I. Purse $1,000,000
Post Time: ( 5:46)/ 4:46/ 3:46/ 2:46

1) Significant Form (Brown/Ortiz, I); owns a win and a last out second here; solid grass workout and extra distance, both plusses.

2) Chipolata (Clement/Franco); French filly is competitive with no distance issues, just hasn’t found the winner’s circle in almost a year. Clement with first lasix starters, 20 percent.

3) Paved (McCarthy/Stevens); has won 3-of-4 including G2 Honeymoon last out; strong SoCal worktab.

4) Capla Temptress (Botti/Castellano); dangerous Euro missed by a half-length last out in a Longchamp Group 1; Castellano gets the call.

5) Toinette (Drysdale/Prat); enters on a 3-race win streak, highlighted in last with a gut-check neck score in the Grade 3 Edgewood; trainer/jock team 42 percent.

6) Athena (O’Brien/Moore); Irish-bred filly for top European connections gets first lasix; loves this distance; and obvious win threat.

7) La Signare (Lynch/Rosario); this French-bred has taken to the American turf, missing by a half-length at Keeneland and then wiring the G3 Wonder Again field here last month; trouble.

8) Thewayjam (Motion/Velazquez); loved the Gulfstream turf where she won three straight, and her closing kick has served her well in last two placing in both the G2 Appalachian and missing by a neck in the Penn Oaks; that late run works here.

9) Fatale Bere (Powell/Desormeaux); was done in last out by saddle issues and never contended as the race fave; this inner turf may give her problems.

10) Mighty Scarlett (Brown/Ortiz, J); Brown starter is one across in her three race career showing last out in the Wonder Again; she’s another with a threatening late kick.

Selections: 7, 6, 5, 1, 3