Belmont Oaks Prediction, Preview, and Odds (July 8)

• Belmont Oaks is a ‘win and you’re in’ for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf
• Horses aged three will compete over 1 ¼ miles on the turf

A big day on the turf is set for this Saturday at Belmont Park, as some of the finest three-year-olds in the world will be in action. The fillies’ big race on the card in New York comes in the form of the G1 Belmont Oaks, which will be run over a distance of 1 ¼ miles. You can find our prediction for the race below.

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Schedule and How To Watch

• When: Saturday, July 8, 2023 from 4:43 p.m. ET
• Where: Belmont Park, New York
• How To Watch: FanDuel TV

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Belmont Oaks Odds

Horse	Odds
Mission Of Joy	+300
Prerequisite	+350
Aspray	+350
Speirling Beag	+550
Aspen Grove	+650
Papilio	+800
Be Your Best	+1600
Strikingly Spun	+3300
Freydis The Red	+3300

Latest odds taken from an offshore sportsbook.

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Race Preview

The big race on the Belmont card this weekend for fillies comes in the form of the G1 Belmont Oaks. This race has been staged since 1979, when it was previously called the Rare Perfume Stakes. It is now a Grade 1 affair, and offers a place in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf to the winner. The speed record was set by Athena in 2018, as she finished in a time of 1:58.71.

Chad Brown holds a healthy record in this race, having landed victory on five occasions. Irad Ortiz takes the ride on Prerequisite this weekend, who will likely be Brown’s best chance of a record-extending victory. The three-year-old has been in progressive form throughout this season, bouncing back from defeat on debut to win each of her last two at Belmont. That includes a victory in the G2 Wonder Again on her previous start, achieving a speed figure of 95.

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However, it’s Mission of Joy that heads the betting this weekend for trainer Graham Motion. The three-year-old was excellent on her previous start, as she landed the G3 Regret Stakes at Churchill Downs, reaching a speed rating of 103. However, she was beaten on her previous step up in class, as she could only finish third in the G2 Edgewood at Churchill. This is also her first start at Belmont Park.

Papilio could be among the horses that is progressing, as she finished second in the G3 Regret last time out. But, she did land the G2 Appalachian Stakes earlier this year, and competed in a Grade 1 in Ireland last year. Be Your Best could also be a runner to watch this weekend. She was last seen finishing second in the G2 Wonder Again, highlighting that Belmont could bring out the best in her.

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Belmont Oaks Prediction

Aspray could be the most interesting Chad Brown runner this weekend, as she has won three from three. Her latest appearance in the Hilltop Stakes scored a career-best figure of 99, and there could be more to come. Aspen Grove could also upset the odds in a less competitive race. She was last seen struggling to tenth behind Tahiyra in the G1 Irish 1,000 Guinea, but she returns to much calmer waters this weekend.

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