10.20 Belmont Derby Stakes (Grade 1) 1m 1f

There are two British-trained runners in the field of 10 for the Grade 1 $750,000 Belmont Derby at Saratoga tonight.

Trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, Will Stroud and the Coolmore partners’ Title Role arrives after winning the Group 2 German 2000 Guineas at Cologne in May.

The Too Darn Hot colt has captured four of seven starts, also winning the Jumeirah 2000 Guineas in Dubai earlier this year, with Pacific Avenue in second, though this is their first race beyond a mile.

“He won those races and improved throughout the whole winter,” Ed Crisford said. “He’s just a very straightforward individual and likes turning tracks, especially over quick-ish ground, as he’s the sort of horse who’s quite nimble and well balanced. We didn’t really feel like there was anything for him at (Royal) Ascot, so we made the Belmont Derby the aim.”

Charlie Appleby has yet to win the Belmont Derby and won the Belmont Oaks just once with Cinderella’s Dream in 2024. William Buick takes the mount on Irish 2000 Guineas third Pacific Avenue in the Derby. The son of Dubawi was also second in the Jumeirah 2000 Guineas, a length behind Title Role.

The home team features the William Walden-trained West End Kid, who collected a third straight victory, taking the Grade 3 Pennine Ridge Stakes at this track, the local prep race for the Belmont Derby.

Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes-winning trainer Cherie DeVaux and jockey Jose Ortiz will try to add the Belmont Derby to that list with Remember Mamba.

The Kitten’s Joy colt finished second in the mile and half a furlong Grade 1 American Turf Stakes on Derby Day at Churchill Downs and should benefit from the added distance.

SELECTION: TITLE ROLE

Next best: Remember Mamba

9.06 Belmont Oaks (Grade 1) 1m 1f

European-trained fillies have won the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks four times in its last eight renewals, and sees two invaders this time.

Abashiri and Kensington Lane, third and fifth, respectively, in the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh, lead the field of 10 three-year-old fillies in the nine-furlong turf race. They battle American graded stakes winners Just Aloof, Imaginationthelady, Fitz Right, Faithful Departed and Storm’s Wake, all in search of their first Grade 1 victory.

The likely favourite is Abashiri on her strong showing in the Irish 1000 Guineas, when she was beaten only three lengths by Precise and a half-length for second by True Love. It was just a third start for Abashiri, who led narrowly a furlong out.

Abashiri broke her maiden on debut at Kempton Park last November over a mile, before returning with a fifth in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.

She stretches out an additional furlong today, but none of her opponents appear close to the high standard of Precise and True Love.

The Donnacha O’Brien-trained Kensington Lane (Joel Rosario) was two and three-quarter lengths behind Abashiri when fifth in the Irish 1000 Guineas.

The daughter of Starspangledbanner won the mile Group 2 Athasi Stakes at the Curragh earlier in the year.

The American fillies include a pair who recently scored in graded races at Churchill Downs in Kentucky: Faithful Departed and Imaginationthelady, but the Chad Brown unbeaten in three and Grade 2 winner last time, Fitz Right, is taken as the biggest danger.

SELECTION: ABASHIRI

Next best: Fitz Right

Also on the card, the Grade 2 Suburban Stakes has the 2025 Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes winner Antiquarian as the likely favourite. He was second in this last year to today’s rival Phileas Fogg.

The Saffie Joseph-trained Forged Steel (Flavien Prat) won the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes last time and looks the danger from last year’s Dubai World Cup winner Hit Show and Bill Mott’s improving Grade 3 winner Stars And Stripes.