An Outstanding Pick from Brisnet.com on Belmont’s Stars and Stripes Festival

Six graded stakes highlight Saturday’s 2^nd annual Stars and Stripes Festival at Belmont Park and Brisnet.com is looking forward to the exciting racing action, including the return of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Texas Red in the $500,000 Dwyer Stakes and leading older horse Tonalist in the $500,000 Suburban.

Three-year-old turf stars will be on display, with the $1.25 million Belmont Derby Invitational and $1 million Belmont Oaks Invitational serving as main events, and Brisnet.com is offering a strong opinion in the latter, tabbing Outstanding (#10 in Race 10) as its key play on the 11-race program.

Outstanding brings improving form and superior BRIS Class ratings into her U.S. debut.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien excels at shipping horses to North America, capturing a couple of Arlington Millions and more Breeders’ Cup races than Todd Pletcher (O’Brien leads 8-7 in wins). His resume includes the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Turf with Magician, a full-brother to Outstanding who hails from the same Coolmore connections as the up-and-coming filly.

Outstanding opened her 2015 season with a 2 ¼-length maiden score in Ireland and followed with a rousing 2 ¾-length decision versus listed foes in her stakes bow. She registered a 120 BRIS Class rating last time that tops the Belmont Oaks field.

The bay filly ranks first in BRIS Current Class (119.4) in the Ultimate Past Performances, including a 119 Class figure two starts back. Compare her numbers to probable favorite Lady Eli, who earned a 118 Class rating in both outings this year.

Outstanding won convincingly at Saturday’s 1 ¼-mile distance last time and is proven on both good and yielding conditions. She receives first-time Lasix and Colm O’Donoghue, who was up last time, will be in to ride.

Outstanding appears poised to take another step forward with her first graded/group victory.

Happy 4^th of July!