The $750,000, Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes Saturday at Belmont at the Big A drew a very talented group of five, led by Endlessly, who won the El Camino Real Derby in February followed by the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks in March before finishing ninth of 20 starters in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve.
Legend of Time won the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge Stakes in May and fits in the group, as does Pennine Ridge runner-up White Palomino. Royal Majesty rallied for third in the Pennine Ridge and can improve. Trikari, winner of the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes Presented by TwinSpires on Kentucky Derby day, nearly won the Grade 3 Penn Mile Stakes in his most recent race and rounds out the group.
Full field analysis:
Endlessly began his career on the grass, easily winning his debut around two turns last summer then moving right into stakes company to win the Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes and Zuma Beach Stakes in succession. Following a poorer eighth-place effort in the Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in November, the colt was given three months off to mature. Endlessly did just that at age 3, returning off the layoff to win the El Camino Real Derby on an all-weather track. In that race, he made a visually impressive three-wide rally on the far turn and then continued strongly to the wire. The son of Oscar Performance followed that up with an even more impressive victory, also on an all-weather surface, in the Jeff Ruby Steaks in March where he went from seventh to first while wide on the far turn. Having earned enough points to run on dirt in the Kentucky Derby – but never having competed on the surface – Endlessly ran respectably, moving from the back of the field early to ninth at the finish. Endlessly has been rested two months, and having proven he can win off the layoff and also moving back to grass, this colt appears to be the one to beat, particularly as his El Camino Real Derby and Jeff Ruby Steaks wins earned 101 and 99 Equibase Speed Figures.
Aside from the first race of his career last October in which he finished last of 12, Trikari has done everything expected of him. Two months later in December, the colt won easily around two turns on an all-weather track and then missed by a nose in his subsequent start when moved to turf. Next came the Rushaway Stakes on Turfway Park’s all-weather track in March, where Trikari proved very game as he battled head-and-head for the final three eighths of a mile, prevailing by a neck to win and earning a 96 Equibase Speed Figure a couple of hours before Endlessly won the Jeff Ruby with a 99 figure. In his next start, Trikari improved once more, as he won the American Turf Stakes on May 4 with a 103 figure. Then, in his most recent race, he came up short by a nose and a neck in a three-horse photo finish in the Penn Mile. Still, Trikari once again showed a lot of physical and mental ability, as he moved up to lead by a half-length with an eighth of a mile to run before being engaged by two rivals and fighting to the end, earning a 97 figure he can improve upon in this race.
Legend of Time won four of five races in Europe and Dubai before coming to the U.S., but was disappointing when fading from second to fifth in the American Turf as the favorite. Three weeks later, Legend of Time redeemed himself with a game win by a head in the Pennine Ridge Stakes, with White Palomino a head behind and with Royal Majesty another 1 ¼ lengths back in third. Legend of Time earned a 95 figure in the Jumeirah Classic Stakes in March in Dubai, but his 86 figure earned winning the Pennine Ridge, if repeated, may not be good enough to beat Endlessly or Trikari if they run their best races. Nevertheless, with world-class jockey William Buick in to ride for Charlie Appleby, there is a possibility Legend of Time may win for the sixth time in his eighth career start.
White Palomino earned a 97 figure earning his first win in April before posting 86 figure in the Pennine Ridge, so if he can repeat or improve off his maiden score he could have a say in the outcome. Similarly, Royal Majesty earned a 97 figure winning on April 13 before tallying an 84 figure in the Pennine Ridge so he too could have what it takes to compete in this field.
Win contenders in probability order:
Endlessly
Trikari
Legend of Time
Superfecta
4-2-1-3
4-2-1-3
$14
Superfecta
4-2-1-3
4-2-1-3
$14
