By Jill Williams
Amerman homebred Test Score (c, 3, Lookin At Lucky–Joy of Learning, by Kitten's Joy), second to Zulu Kingdom (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) in the GI American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs May 3, got his own Grade I day in the sun Friday, winning Saratoga's $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes in convincing style. For his part, Zulu Kingdom won the GIII Manila Stakes at the Spa one race prior to Test Score's Belmont Derby win.
The Amermans won the Belmont Derby for the second consecutive year—they had Trikari (Oscar Performance) in 2024–and for the third time overall since 2017, when they captured it with Oscar Performance (Kitten's Joy).
In this year's Belmont Derby edition, it was three-straight black-type winner Tank (Adios Charlie) who set the pace, as expected, leading the field through :23.66 and :47.79 fractions. Favored GISW and last-out American Turf third New Century (GB) (Kameko) tracked in second to his outside with Test Score just behind that pair in third. Test Score was unbothered through the first half mile, clear by daylight both in front and behind, and eased into a comfortable stride that hinted much more was to come. Positions remained unchanged until the tempo quickened on the turn when Manny Franco began pushing his mount, as did the riders of May 31 SW World Beater (Oscar Performance) and recent European import Luther (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who briefly joined Test Score to his outside. For a moment, it looked as if Test Score would be beaten, but once they straightened in the lane, it took only a heartbeat for him to find another gear, mowing down Tank and leaving the rest to fight it out for second. He sailed home with authority by 1 1/4 lengths, while World Beater got up for second and Luther finished just a nose back in third. The frontrunning Tank held for fourth.
“I loved where he was, but I have to be honest–I was a little worried at the top of the stretch. I thought he really wasn't going anywhere,” said winning trainer Graham Motion. “He's got a tendency to do that, this horse, but he's so tenacious, he really doesn't quit.
“He's such a cool horse. Distance isn't an issue for him,” added Motion, who also trained Trikari last year for the Amermans.
Test Score got the Belmont Derby's 1 1/8 miles on the grass in 1:45.56, just a few shades off the course record of 1:45.06.
“He's an amazing horse,” said John Amerman. “It looks like he is kind of trotting along, in a good position, but then he gets this kick. The rest of them lie down, so it was a great race.”
Motion said Test Score could possibly run next in the Aug. 2 GI Saratoga Derby Invitational. In addition to his American Turf runner-up finish, the Belmont Derby winner won the GIII Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland in April. He broke his maiden last October at Keeneland in his third career start and hasn't finished worse than third since, including placings in the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes at Del Mar in November and the Kitten's Joy Stakes at Gulfstream in February.
Pedigree Notes:
Chilean-based Lookin At Lucky, a former Ashford Stud stallion who has remained year-round in Chile at Haras Don Alberto since the 2023 Southern Hemisphere season, is the sire of Test Score and 53 other graded winners. His 83 black-type winners worldwide include 2018 U.S. champion older male and GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Accelerate, as well as 2019 GI Kentucky Derby winner Country House.
Test Score is a third-generation Amerman-bred. Both his dam and granddam won for the family operation–long-time clients of Mill Ridge Farm in Central Kentucky–with his granddam also producing GISW Coffee Clique (Medaglia d'Oro) and MGSW Admission Office (Point of Entry). Joy of Learning, Test Score's dam, is by the late Kitten's Joy, also the sire of the Amerman's Oscar Performance, who stands at Mill Ridge. The mare, who hails from the same family as MGSW Endlessly (Oscar Performance), has a 2-year-old filly named Screen Test (Not This Time), a yearling colt by War of Will, and an Apr. 23-foaled filly by Liam's Map.
TEST SCORE aces the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational, giving @jockeyfranco the win for trainer @GrahamMotion who won this race last year! pic.twitter.com/iTplHMJxxs
— NYRA (🗽) (@TheNYRA) July 4, 2025
Friday, Saratoga
BELMONT DERBY INVITATIONAL S.-GI, $750,000, Saratoga, 7-4, 3yo, 1 1/8mT, 1:45.56, fm.
1–TEST SCORE, 122, c, 3, by Lookin At Lucky
1st Dam: Joy of Learning, by Kitten's Joy
2nd Dam: Miss Chapin, by Royal Academy
3rd Dam: Society Dream (Fr), by Akarad (Fr)
1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-Jerry Amerman (KY); T-H. Graham Motion; J-Manuel Franco. $412,500. Lifetime Record: 8-3-3-1, $1,074,025. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–World Beater, 122, c, 3, Oscar Performance–Dabinett, by Blame. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($105,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Pin Oak Stud LLC; B-John A. Chandler (KY); T-Riley Mott. $150,000.
3–Luther (GB), 122, c, 3, Frankel (GB)–Give And Take (GB), by Cityscape (GB). 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. (250,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT). O-Paul Hickman and Nicholas Jones; B-Coln Valley Stud (GB); T-Charlie Fellowes. $90,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, NO, HD. Odds: 3.30, 11.30, 6.00.
Also Ran: Tank, Final Gambit-(DH), New Century (GB)-(DH), Early Adopter (GB). Scratched: Flying Mohawk.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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