Fionn rallies to edge Nitrogen, establishes new course record in Belmont Oaks; Obliteration rules Sanford

George Messina and Michael Lee’s Fionn got up in the final strides to deny odds-on favorite Nitrogen and established a new course record in Saturday’s $500,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1) at Saratoga, finishing 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:44.84. Flavien Prat picked up the mount from Brad Cox and recorded his fifth win on the program.

Fionn found her best stride in deep stretch and closed boldly to score by a nose, snapping Nitrogen’s five-race stakes-winning streak.

“I didn't know we had it until obviously they posted the numbers, but I felt like she hit the wire (first),” Cox said. “At the wire, it looked like she had her nose down. I guess she ended up going off second choice; that is the way I felt it looked on paper, but she stepped up and ran big today. I was watching some replays this morning, and I thought maybe Nitrogen has to stub her toe in order for us to beat her, but I think we beat her fair and square today.”

Now a three-time stakes winner, Fionn was exiting a rallying victory in the Regret (G3) at Churchill Downs in late May and relished the stretch out to nine furlongs Saturday. The improving daughter of Twirling Candy has won five of her last six starts, the lone setback a third to Nitrogen in the Appalachian (G2) at Keeneland, and the dark bay was off as the 6.20-1 second choice among seven rivals.

“Very game, I had a great trip,” Prat said. “She broke well, and I was able to follow Nitrogen. Dream trip and she really dug in. Turning for home, I felt like we would be third, maybe second, and the more I asked, the more she gave - great effort.”

Nitrogen tracked pacesetter Opulent Restraint through opening fractions in :23.12 and :46.75, and she made her move to the lead in upper stretch, eventually coming up a little short in her first attempt past 1 1/16 miles. The classy Mark Casse trainee still performed respectably in defeat.

Opulent Restraint wound up about a length behind the top pair in third. May Day Ready made little impact from off the pace, finishing fourth, and was followed by Warming, Virgin Colada, and Totally Justified.

Fionn was bred by Dixiana Farms and sold for $75,000 as a yearling at the 2023 Keeneland September sale. She’s out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Gaelic Gold, who counts Grade 3 turf winner Strike It Rich as her dam.

Prat recorded a five-win day at an NYRA track for the third consecutive year, winning five races on July 4, 2023, at Belmont Park and five races on July 4, 2024, at Belmont at the Big A.

“It's great, honestly,” Prat said of the accomplishment. “It's funny, the Fourth of July the previous two years, I had five winners, and it's one day late, but it's all good (laughs).”

Earlier on the program, Obliteration put on a show in the $175,000 Sanford (G3), drawing clear to a 10 1/2-length victory in the six-furlong event for two-year-olds. Steve Asmussen trains the exciting colt for Leland Ackerley Racing, and Prat was up.

“He's just a very special horse,” assistant trainer Scott Blasi said. “He has a ton of class for a two-year-old, very laid back and really good turn-of-foot. I definitely think he improved from his first race to this race.”

A scintillating 7 1/2-length debut winner at Churchill Downs in mid-June, Obliteration bobbled slightly at the break of the Sanford but quickly recovered to show the way as the 9-10 favorite. He sped through opening splits in :22.74 and :45.56 while being chased by 3-2 second choice Blinging It Back, and the bay son of Violence powered clear in eye-catching fashion while rounding the far turn, reaching the top of the stretch with about a six-length advantage. 

Obliteration continued to widen his lead while being taken in hand, stopping the teletimer in 1:10.65.

“He was very efficient out of the gate and, after that, felt very in control,” Prat said. “Around the turn, he waited a bit on horses, but as soon as I squeezed him and he went back to his right lead, he went on.”

Blinging It Back held second, 3 1/4 lengths clear of Imagine John. Strategic Risk, Fistfulofmoney, and Honey Dutch came next under the wire.

Bred in Kentucky by Ocala Stud, Obliteration was purchased for $200,000 by Ackerley at the OBS two-year-old sale in March. He’s out of the stakes-placed Master Command mare I’mclassyandsassy and counts stakes winners Pure Class and Sassy Beast, as well as Grade 3-placed Big and Classy, as half-siblings.