Nine Go in Jockey Club Derby at Belmont Park

Jockey Club Derby

A field of nine line up in Saturday’s Jockey Club Derby at Belmont Park. (photo credit: © Cheryl Quigley | Dreamstime.com)

A field of nine three-year-olds line up in Saturday’s $1 million Jockey Club Derby Invitational (G1), the third leg of New York’s Turf Trinity.

Henley’s Joy (5-1) won the first leg, the Belmont Derby (G1) at 20-1 while A Thread of Blue (4-1) took the Saratoga Derby in gate to wire fashion to take the second leg of the series at 13-1.

We are back to Belmont Park for the conclusion of the series, and the winner stamps a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) as the race is part of the “Win and You’re In” series. The Breeders’ Cup will be held at Santa Anta on Nov. 1-2.

The Chad Brown trained Digital Age is the 5-2 morning line favorite for the Jockey Club Derby despite coming up short in the first two legs of the series. Javier Castellano picks up the call and the colt will break from the eight post.

There are three European shippers coming in for the race. Among those is the David Simcock trained Spanish Mission (3-1), who was third in the Qatar Gordon Stakes (G3) at Goodwood on Aug. 1 in his last outing. Jamie Spencer is in to ride the son of Noble Mission.

$10 back IF YOUR HORSE FINISHES 2nd or 3rd at TVG.

Saturday’s card at Belmont Park also includes the $750,000 Jockey Club Oaks at 1 3/8 miles on turf and the $300,000 Grand Prix American Jockey Club Invitational for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/2 miles on dirt.

NBC will cover the action during a 90-minute telecast that gets underway at 4:30 ET.

Let’s head out to Belmont Park for Saturday’s featured race of the day:

Belmont Park

Belmont Park Race 10 The Jockey Club Derby Inv.  (Post time 5:47 ET)

8 Digital Age   5-2

1 A Thread of Blue   4-1

9 Spanish Mission   3-1

3 Henley’s Joy   5-1

 

Digital Age

The colt came up short in first two legs of the Turf Trinity in New York but may be able to turn the tables here in this 1 1/2-mile race. The colt was outrun early and came with a mild late run to finish fourth in the Belmont Derby (G1), beaten 2 1/2 lengths by Henley’s Joy. Last out he stalked the early pace and could not get to A Thread of Blue in the Saratoga Derby as the winner was able to set soft early fractions and take the field gate to wire. The Brown trainee won his first three career starts including winning the American Turf (G2) three back at Churchill Downs going 1 1/16 miles. The colt has enough pedigree to handle the added ground here. He is by Invincible Spirit out of a Lemon Drop Kid mare. Castellano picks up the call and he should be able to run these down.

A Thread of Blue

The Kiaran McLaughlin trainee pulled off the upset in the Saratoga Derby at 13-1 with his gate to wire score, earning a career top speed fig. He ran second to our top pick in the American Derby three back, beaten 3/4 a length. He sat off the pace in his win in the Palm Beach (G3) but there is not much speed in here and he figures to try and take this field gate to wire He should be able to handle the extra ground. He is by Hard Spun out of a Seeking the Gold mare that has dropped two other stakes winners including Ea ($598,471) a 11-time dirt route winner.

Spanish Mission

This colt is one of three Euro shippers in this race and the shippers have not had much of an impact on the first two legs of this series. The colt won the Bahrain Trophy (G3) two back at Newmarket going 1 5/8 miles. The colt came up short last out in the Gordon Stakes (G3) at Goodwood at 1 1/2 miles, beaten a neck and a head in a third place finish He had a troubled trip, having to steady early and lacking room while caught in behind foes, getting clear late and finishing gamely. He adds lasix here, but his jockey Jamie Spencer rarely does us any favors when riding in the U.S.

Wagering

WIN: #8 to win at 5-2 or better.

EX: 1,8 / 1,3,8,9

TRI: 1,8 / 1,3,8,9 / 1,3,5,8,9

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll

No. Horse Points
1 Flightline 351
2 Life Is Good 306
3 Olympiad 292
4 Jackie's Warrior 282
5 Clairiere 142
5 Country Grammer 142
7 Epicenter 121
8 Regal Glory 89
9 Nest 87
10 Hot Rod Charlie 48
As of August 1, 2022


DRF Past Performances



Check out the most powerful
interactive Past Performances
used by Michael Dempsey. Use the code TENOFF19 which gives
you a 10% discount on any DRF Formulator plan that is one month or longer.


drf


Free Horse Racing Picks

Get free horse racing picks each day from expert race handicapper Michael Dempsey Click Here


Belmont Stakes News & Reports
Breeders' Cup
Turf ‘n’ Sport handicapper Michael Dempsey has the Belmont Stakes covered with his selections, analysis and fair odds for every race on the card!
Wager on the Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes News

Belmont Stakes Reports

Horse Racing Betting Tips

Horse Racing Betting Tips
Turf 'n' Sport handicappers give out basic horse racing handicapping information..