Jockey Club Derby Offers ‘Cup Bid
Saturday’s inaugural $1 million Jockey Club Derby Invitational at Belmont Park takes on added significance as the race is a “Win and You’re In” for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Run at 1 ½ miles, the Jockey Club Derby at Belmont Park is the third and final leg of the New York Racing Association’s newly minted Turf Trinity which began with the Belmont Derby (G1) in July and continued with the Saratoga Derby Aug. 4. The Jockey Club Derby drew a field of nine, with Leonard Green’s A THREAD OF BLUE and Klaravich Stable’s DIGITAL AGE, the 1-2 finishers of the Saratoga Derby, leading the way. The former, a 3-year-old son of Hard Spun led every step of the way for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and again looks like the controlling speed, while the latter, a son of Invincible Spirit (IRE), closed stoutly late to miss by a length for trainer Chad Brown. A Thread of Blue is 5-for-10 lifetime, which includes a win in Gulfstream Park’s Palm Beach (G3) in March, while Digital Age is 3-for-5 lifetime, including the American Turf (G2) at Churchill Downs in May.
The foreigners are led by SPANISH MISSION, who won the Bahrain Trophy (G3) two-back at Newmarket for trainer David Simcock, and SAN HUBERTO (IRE), who is undefeated in two starts but is stepping up to stakes competition for the first time for trainer Fabrice Chappet. HENLEY’S JOY won the Belmont Derby for trainer Mike Maker but was just fifth at Saratoga, while TONE BROKE enters off wins in the restricted Queen’s Plate at Woodbine and Breeders’ Stakes at Fort Erie for trainer Steve Asmussen. CURRENT, PEDRO CARA (FR), and KADAR are also entered for the “Win and You’re In” Jockey Club Derby Invitational.
The Jockey Club Derby will be televised on NBC (4:30-6 pm ET) as a part of the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: “Win and You’re In” Presented by America’s Best Racing” program.
From Edited Press Release
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