Divisidero Tops Tough Belmont Derby Invitational

Divisidero enters the Belmont Derby with hopes of extending his win streak to three races. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
The Grade 1, $1.25-million Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes is one of the centerpieces on a huge “Stars and Stripes” card of racing at Belmont Park. The race features a field of nine, with three of those entering the race off of stakes wins on grass. Divisidero has done well against the best to date, most notably when winning the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes on Kentucky Derby day, then following that with a win on this turf course in the Pennine Ridge Stakes to bring his career record to 3-for-4. Both the runner-up and third-place finishers from the Pennine Ridge, Takeover Target and Startup Nation, are back and hope to improve and turn the tables on Divisidero.
Force the Pass won the Grade 3 Penn Mile Stakes and has never been worse than second in five races, while Penn Mile third-place finisher Granny’s Kitten is another improving colt with a chance to succeed. Bolo won the Eddie Logan Stakes on turf last winter but moved to dirt this spring. Following a 12th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby he went back to turf and won easily, so he may fit with these as well. Postulation and Canndal both travel from Europe for the race. Postulation has never been worse than third in seven races since his debut last June and recently won the Tri Equestrian Silver Stakes in Ireland at the 1 ¼-mile distance of the Belmont Derby. Canndal might have won the Prix Ridgway Stakes in France last month but was interfered with and eventually placed second after the winner was disqualified. Recent maiden winner Closing Bell rounds out the field.
Divisidero has done little wrong in his career to date and might be a perfect 4-for-4 if not for traffic trouble when third in the Palm Beach Stakes in March. Returning two months later on Derby day in the American Turf Stakes, Divisidero closed while circling the field and displaying a tremendous burst of speed in the stretch to win, earning a career-best 99 Equibase Speed Figure. Less than one month later, Divisidero returned in the Pennine Ridge Stakes, his first race on the Belmont turf course. In spite of a dawdling early pace, Divisidero still ran the last eighth of a mile in just over 11 seconds to prevail by a neck, tying his previous 99 figure. Bred to handle the additional eighth of a mile with no problem and in a field that shouldn't provide any traffic issues of note, Divisidero should once again be in top gear in the stretch and pass the field to win this year’s Belmont Derby Invitational.
Canndal is one of just two horses in the field to have won at this 1 ¼-mile turf trip, which could prove to be an edge in the final stages. Racing exclusively in France, Canndal won at the distance in April in the third start of his career. Then, in his next start, he stepped up into Group 2 stakes competition, finishing third. In his most recent race, the Prix Ridgway Stakes, also at 1 ¼ miles on turf, Canndal was in position to win in the stretch but was hampered by eventual winner Zafiro, who was disqualified for interference and placed third behind Canndal. Jockey Christophe Soumillon rode Canndal to his only win and follows him across the pond to ride in the Belmont Derby. All of this provides more reason to give the exceptionally well-bred colt a long look when considering who can win this race.
Postulation has run at this 1 ¼-mile turf trip twice in his career, finishing second before winning his most recent race last month in Ireland. A Kentucky-bred who has raced exclusively in Ireland, Postulation hasn’t run at the level Canndal has in Europe, but that last effort came in a stakes race and he earned a 107 Timeform Figure, which compares nicely with the Equibase Figures of the major contenders. With the only jockey he's ever known, Patrick Smullen, coming over from Ireland to ride, I believe another top effort can be expected.
Takeover Target suffered a tough defeat when beaten by a neck by Divisidero in the Pennine Ridge Stakes. Before that, he won both his starts, improving from a 93 figure in his debut to a 99 figure. With the ground-saving rail and Belmont Park-leading jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the saddle, Takeover Target might have enough improvement in him to turn the tables on Divisidero this time.
The rest of the Belmont Derby Invitational field (with their best representative  Equibase Speed Figure): Bolo (112), Closing Bell (95), Force the Pass (106), Granny's Kitten (102) and Startup Nation (96).
My Selections:DivisideroCanndalPostulationTakeover Target
You can get detailed selections, analysis and betting recommendations for the entire Belmont Park card by Ellis at Equibase.com.
$1.25-million Belmont Derby Invitational
Saturday, Belmont Park, Race 8, 4:32 p.m. ET
1 1/4 miles on the turf for 3-year-olds

PP

Horse

Jockey

Trainer

Owner

ML Odds

1

Takeover Target

Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Chad Brown

Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence

5-1

2

Bolo

Rafael Bejarano

Carla Gaines

Golden Pegasus Racing and El Mack

7-2

3

Divisidero

Rafael Hernandez

Buff Bradley

Gunpowder Farms

4-1

4

Canndal (FR)

Christophe Soumillon

Mikel Delzangles

HH Aga Khan

8-1

5

Force the Pass

Joel Rosario

Alan Goldberg

Richard Santulli

8-1

6

Closing Bell

Jose Lezcano

Bill Mott

WinStar Farm

20-1

7

Postulation

Patrick Smullen

Dermot Weld

Juddmonte Farms

10-1

8

Startup Nation

John Velazquez

Chad Brown

Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence

6-1

9

Granny's Kitten

Julien Leparoux

Mike Maker

Ken and Sarah Ramsey

6-1