Test Score Hopes to Ace Belmont Derby at the Spa

After a runner-up finish in his first try in a grade 1 stakes, Amerman Racing's homebred Test Score will be hoping for some July 4 fireworks in the $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T) for 3-year-olds at Saratoga Race Course. A son of Lookin At Lucky trained by Graham Motion, Test Score is exiting a second in the American Turf Stakes (G1T), where he closed from fifth to finish second behind Zulu Kingdom (IRE). "He's very brave, this horse," Motion said. "(Jockey Manny Franco) gets along with him so well, and I think when the chips are down, he really is pretty tough. I don't think he lost much in defeat last time." A winner of two of seven starts, Test Score captured the Transylvania Stakes (G3T) in his prior start. Qatar Racing's New Century (GB) was only a nose behind Test Score in the American Turf, finishing third after lagging behind in 12th at one point. The Kameko colt, who won the Summer Stakes (G1T) last year, is trained by Brendan Walsh. Paul Hickman and Nicholas Jones' Luther (GB) makes his United States debut in the 1 1/8-mile Belmont Derby for trainer Charlie Fellowes after running in a pair of group 1 stakes overseas. The Frankel (GB) colt was 15th in the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, G1) at Chantilly and fourth before that in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, G1) at Longchamp. Juddmonte's Final Gambit, who won the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) and was fourth in the Kentucky Derby (G1), returns to turf for the first time since he finished third in his career debut. The son of Not This Time trained by Brad Cox was fourth in the Matt Winn Stakes (G3) last time out. Flying Mohawk, whom trainer Whitworth Beckman was attempting to get back on the turf in the Belmont Derby after an 18th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1), will scratch after undergoing emergency colic surgery July 2. The news was announced on X by MLB all-star and World Series champion Jayson Werth, who co-owns the 3-year-old Karakontie (JPN) colt as Two Eight Racing with Berry Family Racing and Kaleta Racing. "He's recovering well thanks to (trainer) Whit (Beckman's) team but will scratch from the Belmont Derby," Werth said in the post. "Being new to the sport, I'm just thankful he's gonna be ok."