Beldame Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park
Las Vegas, NV - Belmont Park will be the scene of the Grade 1 Beldame Invitational Stakes this Saturday, September 29. It is a Win and You're In qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic in November. Fillies and Mares three years old and upward will race 1 1/8 miles on Belmont's main track in search of their share of the $400,000 purse.
The Beldame has attracted a strong field of seven females to go in race 5 on Belmont's Saturday card. Post time is 2:58 PM. Let's take a look at the seven entries and what brought them to this most important Grade 1 race.
2012 Beldame Invitational Stakes Race Favorites
Royal Delta - has looked exceptional of late - two straight wins including the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap and the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis Handicap on June 16 at Churchill Downs were followed by a respectable second in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Handicap at Saratoga on August 26. Before those results she had a less-than-scintillating ninth in Dubai. Royal Delta proved that she is a horse to contend with in November with a win in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic to end a 2011 campaign that included wins in the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes and Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. Bill Mott trained Royal Delta is the even money morning line favorite and rightfully so .
It's Tricky - Had finished first or second in each of her last eight starts and in 11 of 12 career starts before a third last time out in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign behind Royal Delta. She has eight wins and three seconds and a third in 13 career starts - the wins include three straight graded stakes - the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps May 28, the Grade 2 Distaff Handicap on April 14 and the Grade 2 Top Flight Handicap in March. Another impressive result is a second in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic in November behind Royal Delta - sound familiar? It's Tricky is a classy filly that should give Royal Delta another stern test on Saturday. It's Tricky is undefeated in two starts at Belmont Park, and has never lost a one-turn race.
Beldame Invitational Stakes 2012 | Remaining Field Entries
Cash for Clunkers - has eight career starts with four wins two seconds and a third place finish including three straight wins before a decent second ahead of Awesome Maria in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont in May. Last time out however was a distant seventh in the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap on July 21. He should set the pace and if he can hold off the favorites we will be talking about Cash for Clunkers on Sunday!
Disposablepleasure - Todd Pletcher pupil Disposablepleasure had looked very good in winning at the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct in November but has not tasted victory since. She recorded a fourth in the Grade 2 Davona Dale, a third in the Grade 2 Fair Ground Oaks, a respectable second in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes behind In Lingerie, she finished second behind Zo Impressive in the Grade 1 Mother Goose on June 23, finished fourth in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 21 and was a disappointing sixth last time out in the Grade 2 Lake Placid at Saratoga. She has two wins, three seconds and a third in 10 career starts.
Beldame Invitational Stakes betting at Belmont Park with OffTrackBetting.com
Maristar - had a couple of good results in 2011 - a second in the Grade 3 Washington Park Handicap in September and a third to end 2011 in the Grade 2 Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs in November but has been disappointing in three starts this year - a seventh in the Grade 2 Ontario Matron Stakes July 22 was followed by a fourth in the Trillium Stakes and a sixth in the La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs in May.
Go Unbridled - graded stakes placed and multiple stakes winner Go Unbridled is coming off a win in the minor Saratoga Dew Stakes on August 27 to follow a pair of fifths in a couple of other minor stakes races - the Fleet Indian and Endear Stakes in the state of New York. The win last time out was Go Unbridled's first win in a year - trainer Allen Jerkens would love to build off that result this weekend.
Acting Happy - has raced and placed in three straight Allowance Optional Claiming races after a fourth in the Maryland Racing Media Stakes and a sixth to close 2011 in the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic. Acting Happy is the longest shot in the field and is not likely to contend.
2012 Beldame Invitational Stakes Entries & Odds
Race 5 on Belmont Park's Saturday card with a Post Time of 2:58 PM.
Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | ML Odds |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Go Unbridled | J. Rosario | H. Jerkens | |
2 | Maristar | J. Velazquez | T. Pletcher | |
3 | Royal Delta | M. Smith | W. Mott | |
4 | Cash for Clunkers | A. Garcia | R. Violette, Jr. | |
5 | Disposablepleasure | R. Dominguez | T. Pletcher | |
6 | It's Tricky | E. Castro | K. McLaughlin | |
7 | Acting Happy | J. Castellano | R. Dutrow, Jr. |