SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Amerman Racing’s homebred Test Score broke through with his first Grade 1 win in Friday’s $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational at Saratoga, powering home a 1 1/4-length winner under Manny Franco. The victory came in the nine-furlong turf feature for 3-year-olds on Day Two of the July 4th Racing Festival.
Trained by Graham Motion, the son of Lookin At Lucky entered off a strong runner-up finish in the American Turf (G1) on Kentucky Derby Day, a race won by Zulu Kingdom, who came back earlier on the Saratoga card to win the Manila (G3), reaffirming the quality of that form.
“We pointed for this race after Churchill,” Motion said. “I was really hoping not to run against Chad’s horse [Zulu Kingdom] which worked out. He showed the form is very legitimate by winning the previous race. Two nice horses.”
Motion and owner John Amerman teamed up to win this race for a second straight year, following Trikari’s victory in 2024. Amerman praised Motion and his horse’s grit.
“He’s an amazing horse. It looks like he is kind of trotting along, in a good position, but then he gets this kick,” Amerman added. “The rest of them lie down, so it was a great race. was terrific, and Graham Motion is a great trainer.”
Breaking from post 5 in a field of seven, Test Score tracked just off the pace in third as Tank set early fractions of 23.66 and 47.79. New Century chased in second, while Franco bided his time before asking Test Score to run at the quarter pole. As Tank turned back an initial challenge from New Century, Franco shifted Test Score wide and launched his rally.
“I loved where he was, but I have to be honest – I was a little worried at the top of the stretch, I thought he really wasn’t going anywhere,” Motion said. “He’s got a tendency to do that this horse, but he’s so tenacious, he really doesn’t quit.”
Test Score surged past Tank in the final sixteenth to stop the clock in 1:45.56 for the 1 1/8 miles on firm turf. World Beater closed well to edge Luther for second by a nose, with early pacesetter Tank holding fourth. New Century and Final Gambit dead-heated for fifth, with Early Adopter last. Flying Mohawk was scratched after undergoing colic surgery.
Franco, who has now ridden Test Score in six of his eight starts, said the colt responded perfectly when it counted.
“I had the trip that I wanted. I knew I was going to be forward, so when I saw those two going, I said, ‘OK, I tuck in a little bit,’” Franco said. “And then on the backside, he was relaxed, taking me the right way, and when he felt the company by the three-eighths pole, I knew he was there for me. So I let him go a little bit because he takes a little bit to get going, but as soon as he gets going, he don’t stop, so that is why he got the win.”
Test Score now boasts wins in the G3 Transylvania and Belmont Derby, along with stakes placings in the American Turf and others. Out of Joy of Learning, a Kitten’s Joy mare, he earned $412,500 for the victory and returned $8.60 on a $2 win bet.
