Godolphin's Cinderella's Dream and Juddmonte's Segesta—three-quarters of a length apart when 1-2 in the July 6 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) at Aqueduct Racetrack—meet for a second time when they lead a field of seven in the Aug. 2 Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes (G2T).
They are the only two competitors from the nine-filly Belmont Oaks to reappear in the $400,000 Saratoga Oaks, which, like the former race, will be run at 1 3/16 miles on turf. It is run over Saratoga Race Course's outer Mellon Turf Course, with a long run to the first of two turns.
William Buick, the top overseas rider for Godolphin, will travel to New York from his summer base in Britain for the mount on the strong-finishing Charlie Appleby-trained daughter of Shamardal.
Buick, who teamed with Appleby and Godolphin to win the 2022 Saratoga Oaks aboard With The Moonlight, is 3-2-1 with nine rides this year in North America. He and Cinderella's Dream will break from the inside post.
The Godolphin homebred has remained in New York since the Belmont Oaks.
"She's in great nick, and she's done very, very well since her last run," Appleby said. "She broke the track record there last time at Aqueduct in the Belmont Oaks, which was impressive."
Her time over the 1 3/16-mile distance, not as frequently contested as routes at 1 1/8 miles and shorter, was 1:53.42.
A FANTASTIC TURN OF FOOT 👏
— World Horse Racing (@WHR) July 6, 2024
CINDERELLA’S DREAM rallies to win the G1 Belmont Oaks for @WilliamBuickX and @godolphin! pic.twitter.com/Uh3QAUrnNR
Cinderella's Dream is 5-for-6 lifetime, with her sole defeat coming in the One Thousand Guineas (G1) at Newmarket in May when she checked in seventh. Before that, she won her first four starts, steadily climbing the ranks, initially in Britain and then in Dubai.
Segesta, another homebred, won a maiden race and the Wonder Again Stakes (G2T) prior to a gritty Belmont Oaks runner-up finish on the lead for trainer Chad Brown. She is 2-2-0 in five starts.
Irad Ortiz Jr., aboard throughout her career, returns in the irons on the daughter of Ghostzapper.
She and Cinderella's Dream are the only graded/group winners in the field.
Other Contenders
Joining Buick in traveling to the United States for Friday's race is jockey Ryan Moore, who rides Greenfinch, a Justify filly owned by Coolmore-affiliated connections. She comes off a minor stakes win July 17 at Killarney for legendary Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien.
The Mark Casse-trained Dancing N Dixie (Neolithic ) is a dual stakes winner, most recently having captured the June 29 Tepin Stakes with a late rush at Churchill Downs under Jose Ortiz. She also has three graded placings.
Saratoga Race Course, Friday, August 2, 2024, Race 8Entries: Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational S. (G2T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Cinderella's Dream (GB) William Buick 121 Charles Appleby 6/5 2 2Dancing N Dixie (FL) Jose L. Ortiz 121 Mark E. Casse 8/1 3 3Kathynmarissa (KY) Lanfranco Dettori 121 Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. 12/1 4 4Macanga (KY) John R. Velazquez 121 Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. 9/2 5 5Greenfinch (KY) Ryan L. Moore 121 Aidan P. O'Brien 9/2 6 6Segesta (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 121 Chad C. Brown 7/2 7 7Movin' On Up (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 121 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 20/1
