Race: Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (Grade I)
Date: Saturday, July 5, 2025
Track: Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, NY
Distance: 1 1/8 miles (Turf)
Surface: Mellon Turf Course
Purse: $500,000
Eligibility: 3-year-old fillies
Post Time: 6:13 PM ET
Race Number: 11
Field Overview & Entries
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Pedigree (Sire – Dam, by Dam Sire) | Odds |
| 1 | Warming | Manuel Franco | H. Graham Motion | Global Campaign – Haute Style (Unusual Heat) | 8/1 |
| 2 | Opulent Restraint | Joel Rosario | Chad C. Brown | Dubawi (IRE) – Significant Form (Creative Cause) | 10/1 |
| 3 | Totally Justified | Luis Saez | George R. Arnold II | Justify – Outstanding (IRE) (Galileo) | 6/1 |
| 4 | Virgin Colada | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown | More Than Ready – Episcopal (Pulpit) | 8/1 |
| 5 | Fionn | Flavien Prat | Brad H. Cox | Twirling Candy – Gaelic Gold (Giant’s Causeway) | 5/1 |
| 6 | May Day Ready | Frankie Dettori | Joseph R. Lee | Tapit – Nemoralia (More Than Ready) | 10/1 |
| 7 | Nitrogen | Jose L. Ortiz | Mark E. Casse | Medaglia d’Oro – Tiffany Case (Uncle Mo) | 4/5 |
Race Analysis & Contender Breakdown
Nitrogen
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Form: 5-for-5 in 2025; winner of the G2 Edgewood, G2 Appalachian, and G3 Florida Oaks
Pedigree: Medaglia d’Oro × Uncle Mo mare
Outlook: The undisputed leader of the 3-year-old turf filly division. Dominated the Wonder Again Stakes by 17 lengths (off-turf). Tactical speed, acceleration, and class make her the one to beat.
May Day Ready
Trainer: Joseph R. Lee
Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Form: 2nd in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf; G2 Jessamine winner
Pedigree: Tapit × Nemoralia
Outlook: Talented filly with a strong juvenile resume. Needed her last race off a layoff. If she returns to her BC form, she’s a major threat.
Fionn
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Form: Winner of the G3 Regret Stakes
Pedigree: Twirling Candy × Gaelic Gold
Outlook: Improving filly with a strong late kick. Beat Totally Justified last out and could be peaking at the right time.
Totally Justified
Trainer: George R. Arnold II
Jockey: Luis Saez
Form: 2nd in the Regret Stakes; nose loser in the G2 Jessamine
Pedigree: Justify × Outstanding (IRE)
Outlook: Third start off the layoff. Could turn the tables on Fionn with a better trip.
Pedigree Spotlight
Nitrogen (Medaglia d’Oro × Uncle Mo): Classic turf pedigree; half-sister to graded stakes-placed Love to Shop.
May Day Ready (Tapit × Nemoralia): Tapit’s stamina and Nemoralia’s class make her a dual-surface threat.
Fionn (Twirling Candy): Sire of top turf milers; dam adds stamina and turf class.
Opulent Restraint (Dubawi × Significant Form): European turf royalty; dam was a multiple graded stakes winner for Chad Brown.
Top Pick: Nitrogen – Undefeated in 2025 and towers over this field on class and speed figures.
Value Play: May Day Ready – Dangerous if she returns to her Breeders’ Cup form.
Exacta Box: Nitrogen / May Day Ready / Fionn
Longshot to Watch: Warming – Troubled trip last out; could surprise with a clean run.
