Aspen Grove Runs Strong Into Saratoga Oaks Invitational

Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) victress Aspen Grove , bred and co-owned by Glen Hill Farm with Mrs. John Magnier, will look to double up on graded scores in the $400,000 Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes (G3T) Aug. 4, a 1 3/16-mile Mellon turf test for sophomore fillies, at Saratoga Race Course.

The Saratoga Oaks is the middle leg of the Fillies Turf Triple series, which began with Aspen Grove’s victory in the 10-furlong $500,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational July 8 at Belmont Park and concludes with the 11-furlong $350,000 Jockey Club Oaks Invitational Stakes (G3T) Sept. 16 at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by James “Fozzy” Stack, Aspen Grove took the opening leg of the Turf Triple series with a determined three-quarter-length triumph in the Belmont Oaks, rallying from 4 1/2 lengths under returning pilot Oisin Murphy to collar the pace-setting Prerequisite in the final stages and complete the course in a final time of 2:04.09. She garnered an 98 Equibase Speed Figure for the effort, which was her first start outside of Europe.

“She seems like she’s done well since her last race,” said Craig Bernick of Glen Hill Farm. “You always worry when they come over how they’re going to adapt, but she obviously did fine at Belmont and it’s gone according to plan in her training since she’s been there. We’re looking forward to running her again.”

Bernick said he is hopeful a quicker tempo will develop on Friday.

“I thought she did well in that last race because it was such a slow pace and there were a lot of horses in front of her,” Bernick said. “She did well with that setup. At Saratoga, the race is a little shorter and usually they go a little quicker. Hopefully, there’s a truer pace because it’s always a better race when there’s a good gallop.”

Prior to the Belmont Oaks, Aspen Grove was a group 3 winner in the Newtownanner Stud Irish EBF Stakes (G3) in August at The Curragh when ridden by the now-retired Mark Enright. The veteran jockey has helped care for the filly in her travels, and made the journey to both Belmont and Saratoga to help her settle and prepare for her American endeavors.

Murphy will look to engineer a winning ride from post 10.

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse holds a strong hand in Belmont Oaks third-place finisher Papilio and graded stakes winner Solo Album .

D.J. Stable, Medallion Racing, Barry Fowler, and Parkland Thoroughbreds’ Papilio was trained by Stack for her first five races in Ireland, including a close runner-up effort in the Churchill Stakes in August at Tipperary. She made her first outing for Casse with a narrow head defeat in the Herecomesthebride Stakes (G3T) in March at Gulfstream Park and followed with her first graded triumph by a neck in the Appalachian Stakes (G2T) in April at Keeneland.

Papilio entered the Belmont Oaks from close efforts in graded events at Churchill Downs when fourth in the Edgewood Stakes (G2T) and second in the Regret Stakes (G3T).

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Gary Barber, and Steven Rocco’s Solo Album took six tries to break her maiden, but passed her first test against winners with flying colors when posting a dominant 6 1/4-length romp in the Selene Stakes (G3) July 1 over Tapeta at Woodbine.

Trainer Joseph O’Brien also brings a pair of contenders in European invaders American Sonja and Caroline Street , who both make their U.S. debut.

The field is completed by Courtlandt Farm’s Allamericanbeauty looking to return to the win column for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey; Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Madaket Stables’ Selenaia streaking in off three victories for conditioner Jonathan Thomas; group 1-placed Elusive Princess for conditioner Jean-Philippe Dubois; Phil Bauer-trained stakes winner Xigera ; multiple graded stakes-placed Saffie Joseph, Jr. trainee Honor D Lady ; and two-time winner Strikingly Spun for trainer Joe Sharp.