Master Fencer to Target Turf Trinity in New York

Katsumi Yoshizawa's homebred Master Fencer, who closed to finish fifth in the June 8 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), is being pointed toward the new Turf Trinity series, beginning with the $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) July 6 at Belmont Park.

The 3-year-old son of Just a Way was slated to leave New York June 13 and return to his native Japan to prepare for a fall campaign until Yoshizawa called an audible and decided instead to train Master Fencer toward the Turf Trinity.

"We're excited for the challenge of the Belmont Derby," said Yoshizawa via translator Mitsuoki Numamoto. "Master Fencer has come out of the Belmont Stakes with good energy. He has raced twice on the turf in Japan and run well, even though he did not win. I'm confident he will give a positive showing in the Belmont Derby on grass."

Trained by Koichi Tsunoda and piloted by Julien Leparoux, Master Fencer made his U.S. debut in the May 4 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs and was placed sixth. Five weeks later in the Belmont, he missed fourth place by a head.

The Turf Trinity for 3-year-olds begins with the 1 1/4-mile Belmont Derby as part of Belmont Park's Stars & Stripes Festival and is followed by two new $1 million grass races—the  Aug. 4 Saratoga Derby at 1 3/16 miles and Sept. 7 Jockey Club Derby at 1 1/2 miles.

Japan will also have a contender in the Turf Tiara for sophomore fillies. Tadakazu Obama's Jodie, a daughter of Daiwa Major bred by the famous Northern Farm, has contested all nine starts on turf back home.

She graduated on debut in June 2018 in Tokyo and followed up with a fourth in the Niigata Nisai (G3) at Niigata at a mile. In November, Jodie captured a one-mile allowance at Tokyo but failed to menace in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1) to close her juvenile campaign.

Trained by Hirofumi Toda, Jodie returned with a flourish in February, finishing third in the Daily Hai Queen Cup (G3). She stretched out to 1 1/4 miles for the first time in April and ran third in the Sankei Sports Sho Flora Stakes (G2). Last out in the 1 1/2-mile Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks, G1), Jodie set the early pace before fading to 14th.

The Turf Tiara starts with the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T), also on Stars & Stripes Day, followed by the Aug. 2 Saratoga Oaks and Sept. 7 Jockey Club Oaks. The races worth $750,000 a piece are run at 1 1/4 miles, 1 3/16 miles, and 1 3/8 miles, respectively.

Both the Belmont Derby and Belmont Oaks will be broadcast nationwide on NBC. The second leg of the Turf Triple run at Saratoga Race Course can be viewed on FS1. NBC picks up the broadcast again for the Jockey Club Derby and Jockey Club Oaks at Belmont Park.