SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Fionn surged late under Flavien Prat to edge out heavy favorite Nitrogen by a nose in a thrilling finish to the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1) on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course. The $500,000 race for 3-year-old fillies, run at 1 1/8 miles over the Mellon turf, was the highlight of Day Three of the July 4th Racing Festival.
Trained by Brad Cox for owners George Messina and Michael Lee, Fionn stopped the clock in a record-setting 1:44.84, lowering the Mellon course mark set by In Italian in the Diana (G1) two years ago. The win gave Cox his first Belmont Oaks title and was the second graded win on the card for sire Twirling Candy, whose 4-year-old Think Big earlier captured the Kelso (G3).
Fionn broke from post 5 and settled several lengths off a sharp pace set by Opulent Restraint, who posted fractions of 23.12, 46.75, and 1:10.10 while chased by Totally Justified and Nitrogen. Prat kept Fionn in striking range, angled her out turning for home, and asked her to quicken in the final furlong.
“When we turned for home, I was riding her, and she wasn’t responding much but she swapped leads and leveled off nice,” Prat explained. “I tapped her a few times with the crop, and she responded at that point. I thought I was making a run, but I didn’t know if I was going to go by, but I thought she was making a good run.”
Nitrogen, undefeated in five stakes races this season, looked poised to score again under Jose Ortiz but couldn’t hold off Fionn’s late surge. Opulent Restraint held on for third, with May Day Ready closing from last to complete the superfecta. Warming, Virgin Colada, and Totally Justified rounded out the finish.
The win improved Fionn’s record to 7-4-1-2 and marked her second consecutive graded stakes victory following the Regret (G3) at Churchill Downs. She also won the Allen Black Cat LaCombe Memorial earlier this season at Fair Grounds.
Cox praised the filly’s determination, noting that her team had studied Nitrogen’s past performances closely.
“I was watching some replays this morning and I thought maybe Nitrogen has to stub her toe in order for us to beat her, but I think we beat her fair and square today,” Cox said. “I think Flavien once again did a good job keeping her in his sight and needed the whole mile and an eighth to get by, and [it was a] big effort.”
Co-owner Michael Lee, who purchased Fionn for $75,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, was overjoyed.
“It was outstanding. This is my first Grade 1 winner,” Lee said. “George [Messina] and I have been partners for just about two years and we have only owned a few horses, and this was a relatively inexpensive purchase for 75,000 dollars and I just can’t believe we are winning a Grade 1 right now.”
Cox said the Saratoga Oaks Invitational (G2) on August 9 is a logical next target, depending on how Fionn exits the race.
Trainer Mark Casse was pleased with Nitrogen’s effort and confirmed the Alabama (G1) on dirt at 10 furlongs remains her primary goal.
“He [Jose Ortiz] said when he asked her, she responded but the other filly kind of had the momentum on her. He felt like he had the horse on the lead all the time,” Casse said. “I said going in whether we win, lose or whatever, we have to go to the Alabama, probably moreso now. She ran well.”
Fionn earned $275,000 for the win and returned $14.40 on a $2 win wager.
