How to bet the 2023 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes

An outstanding field of nine three-year-old fillies will travel 1 1/4 miles over the inner turf in Saturday’s $500,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational S. (G1). The well-matched field features numerous legitimate contenders that could come out on top in the affair, so I will spread with a trio of runners with the majority of my wagers.

Graham Motion’s #1 Mission of Joy (2-1) has progressed with each try in 2023 and comes off a measured score in the Regret S. (G3) at Churchill Downs in her most recent appearance. By Kitten’s Joy, the talented chestnut captured the Florida Oaks (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs, which preceded a fine third while enduring traffic in the Edgewood S. (G2) beneath the Twin Spires two back.

Mission of Joy will have no problem handling the move to 10 furlongs on Saturday, especially with a cozy draw on the inside of the stout field, and I don’t expect the bargain $32,000 yearling purchase to ever be that far from the early tempo. Tyler Gaffalione will pilot the rising star once again.

The unbeaten #7 Aspray (6-1), one of two in the field for conditioner Chad Brown, put in a spirited late run to take the Hilltop S. at Pimlico in her stakes debut last time out. By Quality Road, the Ran Jan Racing homebred is bred to handle the distance with ease and has a very high ceiling going forward, in my opinion. The bay owns a big turn of foot that I expect to be equally effective in her first voyage beyond one mile on the lawn. Flavien Prat retaining the ride is a major plus as well.

I am not sure if #4 Papilio (4-1) is more of a miler or a filly that will thrive at 1 1/4 miles, but what I am certain of is that the Starspangledbanner filly is very talented. Conditioned by Mark Casse, the European import has run well in each of her four starts in the States in advance of Saturday, led by a game victory in the Appalachian S. (G2) three prior, and her combination of class and consistency makes her a top-three must-use in the heat. The stout late runner might have less to work to do turning for home in this particular spot under the guidance of regular rider Javier Castellano.

Belmont Oaks Wagers

$12 win and place: #1 Mission of Joy ($24)

$.50-cent trifecta: 1,4,7 with 1,4,7 with all ($21)

$1 superfecta: 1,7 with 1,7 with 1,4,7 with all ($12)