Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes 2014 Contenders & Odds

Dave Bond | OTB Writer

Las Vegas, NV - Belmont Park in Elmont, New York will be the scene of the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational, formerly the Jamaica Handicap on Saturday, July 5. A group of three year olds will take to Belmont Park's turf track and go 1 1/4 miles searching for the winner's share of the handsome $1.25 million purse.

A field of 11 have been confirmed for the Belmont Derby - race 7 on Belmont Park's Saturday card. Post time is 4:34 PM. Here is a look into the past performances of all 11 entries for this Grade 1 stakes.

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2014 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes Race Favorite Entries

Toast Of New York - impressive Jamie Osbourne trained colt makes his North American debut Saturday riding an impressive three race win streak by a combined 10 lengths - including a 2 1/2-length score in the UAE Derby March 29 - his only start of 2014 and a pair of wins at Wolverhampton to end his 2013 campaign. His best work has come on synthetic surfaces - a return to turf seems to be his biggest obstacle. Toast Of New York starts from the rail at the 3-1 favorite morning line with Jamie Spencer in the saddle.

Adelaide - Irish bred Aidan O'Brien trained colt has four career starts with two wins and two second place finishes. He makes his North American debut Saturday off a second in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Ascot June 20 and a Group 3 win at Curragh in May. His other career results are a good second in the Grade 2 Prix Hocquart at Longchamp May 11 and a maiden win in his career debut. Colm O'Donoghue has been tabbed to ride the 7-2 morning line second choice from post 4.

Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes 2014 | Remaining Contenders

Gailo Chop - French bred gelding has been very good in his career - seven starts with five wins, a second and a third place finish. He rides a four race win streak into Saturday's stakes including two straight Group 2 stakes at Longchamp in April and a pair of Weight For Age Stakes at home. Gailo Chop will line up in post 7 at 5-1 odds.

Bobby's Kitten - Chad Brown trained colt has four wins and two third place finishes in seven career start and has placed in all six career turf starts - the lone brutal performance coming two back - a twelfth in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in April. Sandwiched around that result are a win last time out in the minor Penn Mile Stakes May 31 and an Allowance score in March. Bobby's Kitten did finish a respectable third as favorite in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf so we know he can run with the best. He won the Grade 3 Pilgrim at Belmont by 6 ΒΌ lengths before the Breeders' Cup try. Javier Castellano will be in the saddle from gate 3 at 6-1 odds in Bobby's Kitten's first try at 1 1/4 miles.

Pornichet - French bred colt makes his North American debut Saturday off a third in the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Longchamps in May and a pair of Allowance scores earlier this year. He has three wins, a second and two third place finishes in seven career starts and is another of the international contenders for this race. Jose Ortiz will be in the reins from post 8 as Pornichet adds blinkers and Lasix for the first time and goes off at 10-1 odds.

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Dance With Fate - will race for the first time since a sixth in the Kentucky Derby which followed a win in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes April 12 and a good second in the Grade 2 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate February 15. He had a good second behind Bond Holder in the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes September 28 as well after a troubled second behind Tamarando in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity September 4. He went on to a disappointing eighth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Dance With Fate has three wins and three seconds in nine career starts and will run his seventh graded stakes race already. He is the most experienced of all the contenders, won his only career turf start with ease and will have Corey Nakatani aboard from post 6.

Global View -Thomas Proctor trained colt will make his eighth career start with three wins and a second already. Last time out was an OK second in the minor Penn Mile on May 31 after a terrific win in the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs May 3. This followed a career worst performance - a seventh in the Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland in April, a second in an Allowance and wins in the Grade 3 Generous Stakes at Hollywood Park November 30 in his stakes debut and a maiden score October 27 in his second career start at Santa Anita. He has won two of his three graded stakes starts and has looked very good recently. Gary Stevens will be in the saddle from post 10.

Sheldon - James Toner trained colt makes just his second graded stakes start - the first was a sixth in the Grade 3 Pilgrim Stakes in his second career start in October. He has concentrated on MSW races since and finally broke through with his first win last time out - in his seventh career start - on this track June 12. Junior Alvarado gets the call from post 2.

Flamboyant - French bred Flamboyant has placed in all eight career starts - two wins, two seconds and two third place finishes at home before a win in his North American debut - the minor La Puente Stakes at Santa Anita April 19 and a second - last time out in the minor Pennine Ridge Stakes on this track May 26. He leaves from post 5 with Joel Rosario guiding him.

Mr Speaker - Shug McGaughey trained colt has looked terrific at the end of 2013 - an impressive 10 3/4 length win in the Grade 3 Dania Beach Stakes here on December 21 and a MSW score at Belmont Park in October. Last time out however was a disappointing fifth in the minor Pennine Ridge Stakes here May 26 after a good win in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland in April and a good second in the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes at Gulfstream March 1. He also had a disappointing seventh in the Grade 2 Holy Bull Stakes January 25 in his first start on dirt. Mr Speaker has three wins, a second and a third place finish in eight career starts but has traded good results with bad the last few months. Jose Lezcano will be aboard from post 9 at 15-1 odds.

Gala Award - Todd Pletcher pupil broke maiden January 20 in his second career start after a second in a similar race in his debut December 7 - both results coming at Gulfstream. He has gone on to win two of his three starts - all stakes races. After a successful jump into graded stakes company - a win in the Grade 3 Palm Beach Stakes March 1, he stumbled to a disappointing sixth in the Blue Grass Stakes in April but most recently bounced back with a win in the minor Pennine Stakes on this track May 26. He has three wins and a second in five career starts - not too bad on paper. John Velazquez rides from the outside post Saturday.


2014 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 7 on Belmont Park's Saturday card with a Post Time of 4:34 PM.

Entry Horse Jockey Trainer ML Odds
1 Toast of New York J. Spencer J. Osborne
3-1
2 Sheldon J. Alvarado J. Toner
30-1
3 Bobby's Kitten J. Castellano C. Brown
6-1
4 Adelaide (IRE) C. O'Donoghue A. O'Brien
7-2
5 Flamboyant (FR) J. Rosario P. Gallagher
15-1
6 Dance With Fate C. Nakatani P. Eurton
10-1
7 Gailo Chop (FR) J. Auge A. De Watrigant
5-1
8 Pornichet (FR) J. Ortiz G. Waterhouse
10-1
9 Mr Speaker J. Lezcano C. McGaughey III
15-1
10 Global View G. Stevens T. Proctor
12-1
11 Gala Award J. Velazquez T. Pletcher
10-1