A field of 14, plus an also-eligible runner, has been assembled for the GI Belmont Derby, which launches the New York Racing Association's first Turf Trinity series in Elmont Saturday. Klaravich Stable's Digital Age (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who is unbeaten in three lifetime starts, will be stretching out to the Derby's 1 1/4-mile distance off a late-running 3/4-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile GII American Turf S. May 4 at Churchill Downs. The Irish-bred colt is one of four Chad Brown trainees in the Derby. Brown also saddles Peter Brant's Demarchelier (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who, like his stablemate, comes into the race with a three-for-three record. The bay rallied stoutly to best Seismic Wave (Tapit) by a neck when winning the GIII Pennine Ridge S. over the Belmont turf June 1. The Brown contingent is completed by recent Tale of the Cat S. winner Standard Deviation (Curlin) and Rockemperor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who makes his stateside debut off a sixth-place effort in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly June 2.
Katsumi Yoshizawa's Master Fencer (Jpn) (Just a Way {Jpn}), who opened his career with a pair of turf outings in Japan last winter, returns to the grass after exceeding expectations with solid efforts in the May 4 GI Kentucky Derby (7th) and June 8 GI Belmont S. (5th).
“The horse is getting bigger and stronger,” trainer Koichi Tsunoda said. “It's the third time he's run in the U.S. and we've been able to make certain adjustments to help him. With Suguru Hamanaka riding him yesterday and today, Master Fencer has been responding to him very well. I'm very happy with how the horse is looking right now.”
Hamanaka replaces jockey Julien Leparoux, who rode Master Fencer in the Triple Crown races.
Also returning to the turf after a tilt at the Triple Crown races is Imperial Racing's Plus Que Parfait (Point of Entry), who makes his first start since finishing ninth in the Kentucky Derby. The Brendan Walsh trainee earned a spot in the Derby starting gate with a win in the Mar. 30 G2 UAE Derby at Meydan.
“It should be right up his street,” Walsh said of the Belmont Derby. “I'm confident he's as good on turf as he is on dirt, and if he is, it should give him a live chance. He was in Dubai before the Derby, so we thought the right thing to do was just back off. But he's back ready and fit to go. We're expecting a big run. He's got a great temperament.”
Plus Que Parfait, who opened his career with a third-place effort over the Ellis Park turf last July, worked five furlongs over the Churchill lawn in 1:00 4/5 June 26.
The Turf Trinity continues with the $1-million GI Saratoga Derby Aug. 4 and concludes with the $1-million GI Jockey Club Derby Sept. 7 at Belmont.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
