Godolphin takes aim at Belmont Derby, Oaks at Saratoga

Shippers from the Newmarket-based yard of Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby will add some international spice to the $750,000 Belmont Derby (G1) and $600,000 Belmont Oaks (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday.

Lining up for Godolphin in the Belmont Derby is Pacific Avenue, most recently third behind Gstaad in the Irish 2000 Guineas (G1). Abashiri, third to the dominant Coolmore duo Precise and True Love in the Irish 1000 Guineas (G1), will be their Belmont Oaks representative.

"Her Irish Guineas form has been franked with the one-two [finishers] going on to Ascot and running well," said Appleby, referring to Precise and True Love finishing first and third, respectively, in the Coronation (G1) during Royal Ascot week.

Both the Belmont Derby and Belmont Oaks will be run over 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

Another foreign raider in the Derby is Title Role, who beat Pacific Mission at Meydan in February and later captured the German 2000 Guineas (G2) at Cologne.

"He's just a very straightforward individual and likes turning tracks, especially over quickish ground, as he's the sort of horse who's quite nimble and well-balanced," co-trainer Ed Crisford said of Title Role.

The Belmont Derby goes without the nation's top three-year-old turf colt, Stark Contrast, but Remember Mamba rallied to finish second behind that foe in the American Turf (G1). The Derby has also attracted the top three finishers from last month's Pennine Ridge (G3), led by the winning West End Kid, while Touch of Fire, Turf Star, and Third Coast all enter off non-graded stakes wins.

Abashiri is joined in the Oaks by Kensington Lane, a Group 3 winner at the Curragh in early May, but her most serious challengers will likely be domestic. They include dual Grade 2 winner Imaginationthelady, Regret (G3) winner Faithful Departed, Wonder Again (G3) scorer Fitz Right, and Fair Hill-based Ultimate Love.

Last week's Stephen Foster (G1) at Churchill Downs had the older dirt male division's big guns, but the $500,000 Suburban (G2) has the numbers. Eleven passed the entry box for the historic 1 1/4-mile test, including last year's one-two, Phileas Fogg and Antiquarian.

Making a rare New York appearance is Hit Show, a past winner of the Dubai World Cup (G1) and most recently third in the Blame (G3) to stakes newcomer Original Sin. Other notables in the field include marathon specialist Parchment Party, Ben Ali (G3) hero Stars and Stripes, and the speedy Hollywood Gold Cup (G2) scorer Forged Steel.

The quartet of stakes at Saratoga on America's 250th birthday is kicked off by the $225,000 Sanford (G3), a six-furlong dash for two-year-olds. Filled mostly with recent maiden winners and placers, the lone exception is the filly Waggley, though she beat only two rivals in the Kentucky Juvenile at Churchill Downs in late April.