Aspen Grove makes winning U.S. debut in Belmont Oaks
Europe shipper Aspen Grove, patiently handled by Oisín Murphy, arrived in the final strides to capture her U.S. debut, winning Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park.
Craig Bernick of breeder and co-owner Glen Hill Farm said Fozzy Stack-trained Aspen Grove is likely to stay in North America and target the Saratoga Oaks Invitational (G3) on Aug. 4 or the Del Mar Oaks (G1) on Aug. 19.
“The money is great here. She’s already a Grade 1 winner. I think she would have a hard time winning a Group 1 in Europe. There’s a whole program for her here,” Bernick said. “We’ll talk about it tonight over drinks with Fozzy. Jack (Sisterson) is at Saratoga, Tom Proctor is at Del Mar and (traveling secretary and former rider) Mark Enright is here with the horse. We’ll figure it out. We came thinking we could win, but it’s a nice surprise, too.”
The Justify bay co-owned by Susan Magnier was loaded into the outermost post 9 with a blanket on, and after breaking awkwardly, she was guided to the rail to save ground in fifth position. Prerequisite and Be Your Best dueled through an opening quarter-mile in 24.16 seconds over the firm footing.
Prerequisite, last-out winner of the Wonder Again (G2) at Belmont Park, took command down the backstretch under Irad Ortiz Jr. through a half-mile in 50.55 seconds with Be Your Best pressing and 2-1 favorite Mission of Joy saving ground in third position to the inside of Aspray.
Mission of Joy angled off the rail to launch her bid as Prerequisite led the closely bunched field to the far turn through three-quarter miles in 1:16.69 with Aspen Grove traveling comfortably in sixth position.
Murphy gave Aspen Grove her cue midway through the turn, maneuvering off the rail to follow the run of Aspray before surging to the inside of a retreating Be Your Best at the head of the stretch and ranging outside of Mission of Joy to collar Prerequisite for the three-quarter-length score at a final time of 2:04.09 for the 1 1/4 miles on the firm, inner-turf course.
Prerequisite completed the exacta by a neck over the late-running Papilio, who stumbled at the start under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano. Aspray, Freydis the Red, Speirling Beag, Mission of Joy, Strikingly Spun and Be Your Best rounded out the order of finish.
Murphy secured his third graded win in North America following past success with Blond Me in the 2017 E. P. Taylor (G1) at Woodbine and aboard Marche Lorraine in the 2021 Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar.
“She broke a little slowly compared to American horses,” Murphy said. "I used to work for Fozzy Stack when I was a small boy, 14 and 15. To team up and win a Group 1 for him in the Belmont Oaks is brilliant, really brilliant.”
Aspen Grove captured a one-mile Group 3 in August at the Curragh in rein to the recently retired Enright, who joined the filly on her journey to New York and was aboard for her local training. She made her last two outings with Enright at the controls, finishing third in her seasonal debut in another one-mile Group 3 in May at Leopardstown before a last-place effort in the one-mile Irish 1,000 Guineas (G1) over good ground May 28 at the Curragh.
“She won a turf race as a 2-year-old over a mile, so we always thought distance (would be fine),” Murphy said. “I was very happy, because I was able to save ground towards the rail, and when the pace stopped in front of me, I was able to get out on the back of a horse going forward, No. 7, Chad Brown’s filly (Aspray). I switched out into the straight, and it wasn’t a very difficult ride.”
Stack said Aspen Grove had an excuse for her Guineas effort.
“Last out she was in season unfortunately, but you have one Guineas to run in,” said Stack. “It didn’t work out, but she did well today and shipped over well. Mark used to ride her at home and came over with her. He’s done a good job with her for the last week or so. He kept her fresh and happy and she did it well.”
Ortiz said he was proud of the effort from Prerequisite.
“I was enjoying it (the pace), and she was enjoying her time out there," he said. "She was happy. She was relaxed. She gave me everything, and when we turned for home, I feel like she was running. Unlucky we got beat.”
Aspen Grove banked $275,000 in victory while improving her record to 7: 2-0-1. She returned $33.40 for a $2 win bet.
