International Raiders Look Tough in Saratoga Derby

Irish and English horsemen sure know a good thing when they see it and the $1 million Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1T) Aug. 7 obviously looks to them like a real good plum, ripe for the picking.

'Tis no wonder they'd see it that way after landing the two rich grade 1 turf events that wound up the Belmont Park season.

Entries last seen across the pond stand out in an 11-horse field set to tackle 1 3/16 miles on the Saratoga Race Course green — none more so than Bolshoi Ballet . The Galileo  colt returns seeking a double after rallying to grab the winner's share of the Belmont Derby Invitational (G1T) in his last U.S. visit a month ago.

The Aidan O'Brien charge is joined by four other international raiders, all with accomplishments, breeding, and/or potential to have a say in the outcome at the Spa.

The six defending the home ground include Cellist , Du Jour  and Palazzi . That trio reported third, fourth and sixth, respectively, in the Belmont Derby. While none was embarrassed by that effort, Bolshoi Ballet was clearly best while rallying from behind a slow pace.

Bolshoi Ballet, flying the colors of the Coolmore partners, is 3-for-4 this season with his only loss coming in the Cazoo Derby (G1) at Epsom, where he finished seventh, beaten 17 lengths as the favorite.

"It's a good opportunity for him," O'Brien assistant T.J. Comerford said in a bit of understatement. "He's doing well and came back here in good order. Aidan and the team are very happy with him at the moment. If he runs to his last race, he should be right there again."

Ryan Moore will launch Bolshoi Ballet from the No. 6 gate and, should he prevail, the colt would be set up to sweep the "Turf Triple" series inaugurated by the New York Racing Association in 2019. The final leg is the $1 million Jockey Club Derby Invitational (G1T) Sept. 18 at Belmont Park, which also is a "Win and You're In" event for the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T).

O'Brien's son, Joseph Patrick O'Brien, sends State of Rest , a Starspangledbanner  colt. John Velazquez takes the reins for his second start of the year, following a promising third, beaten less than a length, in the 1-mile Dubai Duty Free Celebration Stakes at the Curragh June 16. This will be his first try beyond 1 mile.

Godolphin joins the well-funded fun with the Charlie Appleby-trained Secret Protector . The Kentucky-bred War Front   colt, out of the Galileo mare Eternal Bounty , hasn't won since taking the Meydan Trophy in his first start of the year in Dubai but was third in the Hampton Court Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot in his last outing. Mike Smith takes the mount.

"Tripwise, it looks really made for him," said Appleby's traveling assistant, Chris Connett. "His run at Ascot was very good. I know he didn't win but from where he was in the run to how he finished was quite striking. It's going to be a tough race with Aidan's horse and a few of the others but Charlie is fairly confident if he runs the race he run at Ascot, he will take a bit of beating."

Cadillac , a Lope de Vega  colt trained by Jessica Harrington, visits the United States for the first time since finishing fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) last fall at Keeneland. He got the 2021 campaign off to a winning start in the ARM Holding International Stakes (G3) at the Curragh June 26 and Shane Foley is set to fly in to ride again.

France gets into the picture, too, as trainer Christophe Clement takes over Soldier Rising , a Frankel  colt previously trained by Andre Fabre. Soldier Rising has been working steadily in New York for his new owners, Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Morris Bailey, Wonder Stables, and Michael Caruso. He does step up significantly in class from his four previous starts in France.

While Cellist  was a bit of a surprise finishing third in the Belmont heat, Du Jour  was among the favorites that day. The Temple City   colt at that point boasted three straight wins. The best of those was the American Turf Presented by Derby City Gaming (G2T) at Churchill Downs on Derby Day, when Bob Baffert still trained Du Jour. In the wake of Baffert's recent troubles, the training chores were turned over to Bill Mott before the Belmont Derby. The colt remains owned by Baffert's wife, Jill, and Debbie Lanni.

Trainer Mark Casse, meanwhile, could celebrate his Friday induction into the Hall of Fame with an upset win by Palazzi.

To borrow a phrase from Maryland, there are some new shooters in the field.

Yes This Time , a Not This Time   colt, arrives on the back of four straight wins, most recently the Kent Stakes (G3) at Delaware Park. He has an Irish connection, too, as Not This Time was sired by Coolmore star runner and stallion Giant's Causeway .

Flashiest  makes the trip to Upstate New York from the west after making his last three starts on the Southern California circuit. The Mizzen Mast   gelding, trained by Leonard Powell, was last seen rallying from the clouds to win the restricted Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar July 16.

King Fury  rounds out the field and starts from the outside gate. The Curlin   colt won the Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (G3) in the slop at Keeneland, then got a break before just missing to Masqueparade  in the Ohio Derby (G3) in his last start.

Trainer Kenny McPeek, explaining the dirt-to-turf move, said he believes a good horse can run on any surface and called the Belmont Derby a prep for the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) back on the dirt at Saratoga Aug. 28.

Entries: Saratoga Derby Invitational S. (G1T)

Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, August 07, 2021, Race 9

• Grade IT
• 1 3/16m
• Turf
• $1,000,000
• 3 yo
• 5:10 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Soldier Rising (GB)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	122	Christophe Clement	12/1
2	2Du Jour (KY)	Joel Rosario	122	William I. Mott	8/1
3	3Palazzi (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	122	Mark E. Casse	20/1
4	4Cadillac (IRE)	Shane Foley	122	Mrs. John Harrington	4/1
5	5Yes This Time (KY)	Luis Saez	122	Kelly J. Breen	15/1
6	6Bolshoi Ballet (IRE)	Ryan L. Moore	122	Aidan P. O'Brien	2/1
7	7Secret Protector (KY)	Mike E. Smith	122	Charles Appleby	6/1
8	8Cellist (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	122	George R. Arnold, II	12/1
9	9State of Rest (IRE)	John R. Velazquez	122	Joseph Patrick O'Brien	10/1
10	10Flashiest (KY)	Jose Lezcano	122	Leonard Powell	20/1
11	11King Fury (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	122	Kenneth G. McPeek	10/1