Owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson of Lael Stables, who captured the 2006 Kentucky Derby (G1) with the ill-fated Barbaro, have also enjoyed success in another top-tier race for 3-year-olds: the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T). They first won it with the Check the Label when it was called the Garden City Stakes in 2010 and experienced a second victory a decade later with Magic Attitude under the race’s current name.
On July 6, the Jacksons aim for a third win in the now-$500,000 race when trainer Cherie DeVaux starts their talented She Feels Pretty against eight other 3-year-old fillies in the 1 3/16-mile outer turf test during the Belmont at the Big A meet. She faces a top-class field that includes three overseas raiders: Fun With Flags , Secret Satire , and Cinderella’s Dream .
A winner of her first two starts last year, including the Natalma Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine, She Feels Pretty started as the favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) last year at Santa Anita Park and ran a wide, without-cover third, beaten a half-length.
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Freshened during the winter and early spring, she romped by 5 3/4 lengths in the May 17 Hilltop Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in her lone start at age 3. That stakes race, like her starts in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and Natalama, came at a mile, leaving her a question mark at Saturday’s longer distance.
“We are going to find out if she can handle it,” DeVaux said. “She has not seemed distance-compromised right now, as of yet, so it will be interesting to see how she handles it.”
She Feels Pretty, favored at 2-1 odds on the morning line under regular rider John Velazquez, is one of two starters for DeVaux, who also runs Blue Heaven Farm’s Sy B , a 15-1 outsider under Tyler Gaffalione.
Threats From Overseas
Godolphin’s Cinderella’s Dream is the 9-2 second choice after checking in seventh in the One Thousand Guineas (G1) at Newmarket May 5 for trainer Charlie Appleby. Appleby’s go-to rider, William Buick, is in town Saturday to ride the Shamardal filly and Legend of Time in the $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) earlier on the card.
“Cinderella’s Dream did well in Dubai, so she’s adapted to that flat, round-track style of racing,” Appleby said. “I thought she ran a creditable race in the Guineas and I feel the step up to this trip should suit. Her training at Saratoga, where she’s been for some time, has gone well. She’s done everything that needs to be done down there. I feel she’ll be a big player on Saturday. She’s got plenty of experience under her belt and quick ground will suit her, as well. Those tight tracks will suit her, as she’s a neat filly.”
She is one of two Saturday starters exiting group 1 races in Britain, the other being Guy Brook’s Secret Satire , who ran 10th in the May 31 Oaks (G1) at Epsom Downs after winning the Musidora Stakes (G3) at York a start earlier for trainer Andrew Balding.
Fun With Flags comes to the United States via France, where she was grade 3-placed. The Jerome Reynier trainee races for owners Madaket Stables, Michael Kisber, Gainesway Stable, and Erika Gilliar.
Besides She Feels Pretty, the other top American-trained runners are Edgewood Stakes (G2T) winner Dynamic Pricing , 2023 Jessamine Stakes (G2T) winner Buchu , and Wonder Again Stakes (G2T) winner Segesta .
Entries: Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational S. (G1T)
Belmont at the Big A, Saturday, July 06, 2024, Race 9
- Grade I
- 1 3/16m
- Outer turf
- $500,000
- 3 yo Fillies
- 4:42 PM (local)
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