International Field of 14 Likely for Belmont Derby

A full, international field of 14 3-year-olds is taking shape for the sixth edition of the $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) July 6 at Belmont Park.

The list of invitees includes four horses from trainer Chad Brown and two apiece from Todd Pletcher and Aidan O'Brien, Europe's leading trainer.

Brown is scheduled to send out Pennine Ridge Stakes winner (G3T) Demarchelier, American Turf Stakes presented by Ram Trucks (G2T) winner Digital Age, former French runner Rockemperor, and Tale of the Cat Stakes winner Standard Deviation.

O'Brien will be represented by Cape of Good Hope and Blenheim Palace, while Pletcher will saddle Social Paranoia and Spinoff, who will be making his turf debut after finishing 18th and sixth, respectively, in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1).

Other Triple Crown contenders probable for the 1 1/4-mile turf test are Japan's Master Fencer, who was sixth in the Kentucky Derby and fifth in the Belmont Stakes, and Plus Que Parfait, winner of the UAE Derby Sponsored by Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (G2) and eighth in the Kentucky Derby.

Penn Mile (G2T) winner Moon Colony, English Bee, Henley's Joy, and Seismic Wave are also probable.

The Belmont Derby will serve as the opening leg of the New York Racing Association's Turf Trinity and will be followed by the $1 million Saratoga Derby Aug. 4 at Saratoga Race Course and $1 million Jockey Club Derby Sept. 7 at Belmont Park.

Ten fillies could line up for the $750,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T).

Brown has a trio of probable starters in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) winner Newspaperofrecord, Cambier Parc, who beat Newspaperofrecord in the June 6 Wonder Again Stakes (G3T), and Café Americano.

O'Brien's Belmont Oaks starters could include group stakes winners Just Wonderful, Coral Beach, and Fleeting.

The likely starters in the 1 1/4-mile turf stakes also include multiple graded stakes winner Concrete Rose, Japan's group 2-placed Jodie, Dyna Passer, and France's group 1-placed Olendon.

The Belmont Oaks ushers in the launch of the Triple Tiara series that continues with the $750,000 Saratoga Oaks Aug. 2 at Saratoga and the $750,000 Jockey Club Oaks Sept. 7 at Belmont Park.

Belmont's July 6 card will feature five graded stakes as part of the Stars & Stripes Racing Festival. Also on the card will be the $700,000 Suburban Stakes (G2), the $250,000 Dwyer Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds, and the $300,000 John A. Nerud Stakes (G2) at seven furlongs.

The Suburban and Dwyer, in particular, may feature candidates for a division championship.

Catholic Boy, a grade 1 winner on dirt and turf, tops seven probables for the 1 1/4-mile Suburban. Owned by Robert LaPenta, Sol Kumin's Madaket Stables, Siena Farm, and Twin Creeks Racing Stable, the versatile 2018 Runhappy Travers Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) winner opened his 4-year-old campaign with a victory in the May 18 Dixie Stakes (G2T) on turf at Pimlico Race Course.

The son of More Than Ready  is trained by Jonathan Thomas.

Other likely starters in the Suburban are Carlino, Lone Sailor, Marconi, Pavel, Preservationist, and Wooderson. Realm is a possible starter.

Will Farish's Code of Honor is scheduled to make his first start since being elevated to second in the Kentucky Derby when he returns in the one-mile Dwyer.

The probable starters in the Dwyer also include Final Jeopardy, Majid, Mihos, Rowayton, and Whiskey Echo.