Kentucky Belle Captures Saratoga Oaks in Stakes Debut

It took until Aug. 7 of her 3-year-old season for Kentucky Belle to run in a stakes race. "We missed a little time with her," trainer Brad Cox said, "but it was worth the wait." Indeed it was. WinStar Farm's homebred daughter of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify made an auspicious debut in black-type company as she closed with gusto in the stretch to collar favored Faithful Departed in the final strides and prevail by a head in the $500,000 Saratoga Oaks (G2T) for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga Race Course. "She ran big today," Cox said. "Turning for home, I thought this should work out. We were going to get a graded placing, but she was able to get there. I was confident she would stay and keep coming, which is what she always does." Kentucky Belle needed every bit of her staying power in the 1 3/16-mile Spa Oaks, as Faithful Departed had taken charge at the top of the stretch and seemed destined to give trainer Grant Forster his first Saratoga victory. But jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and Kentucky Belle had something to say about that as they closed stoutly in the final furlong, with the daughter of the Tiznow mare Dancing Fancy reaching the front at the wire for a 10-1 ($23.20) upset. "She ran her down because she was really running," said Ortiz, who rallied her from seventh in the field of eight after 6 furlongs in 1:13.43. Kentucky Belle broke her maiden in her third career start last year, but then did not race for a little more than three months when she rallied from ninth to finish second in a 1-mile allowance optional claimer March 7 at Gulfstream Park. A month later, her late kick carried her to a nose victory in a Keeneland allowance race at 1 3/16 miles, which set the stage for Friday's breakthrough stakes win. "I've always felt this would be her thing," Cox said. "She ran this distance before and I am very proud of her." Frank Ferrogine, Richard Rendina, Nick Coniglio, and Greywood Farms' Faithful Departed was the 3-2 favorite off a game second in the July 4 Belmont Oaks (G1T) and opened a length lead at the eighth pole. But she could not fend off Kentucky Belle's determined late bid. The daughter of Yoshida (JPN) finished 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Michael Dubb, William Lawrence, The Elkstone Group, and Michael Kisber's Fitz Right, a Charlatan filly trained by Chad Brown. Brown's three starters also included Consensus View (GB), who was sixth with jockey Manny Franco, ending Franco's bid for a record-breaking seventh victory on Friday's card. Kentucky Belle is the third of six foals (four to race) from Dancing Fancy and her first stakes winner. Her most recent foal is a 2026 Life Is Good colt. Cox said the Sept. 9 Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational Stakes (G3T) at Kentucky Downs was a likely target for his filly. "That would be the race we'd look at," he said.