Athena wins Belmont Oaks, her third race in 17 days

Horse players cooled on the Aidan O'Brien runners just in time for a huge score in the wide-open Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Oaks Invitational.

The European shipper Athena, under jockey Ryan Moore, surged from near the back of the pack to win easily on the inner turf -- and that's despite a jam-packed schedule of late.

The Irish-bred was competing in her third race in 17 days after running at England's Royal Ascot, then just last weekend at the Curragh Racecourse. She looked no worse for the wear while completing the 1 1/4 miles in 1:58.71.

"Ryan knew he had enough horse under him to do what he wanted," said T.J. Comerford, O'Brien's assistant trainer. "He just had to the press the button on her, and whenever he wanted her to go, she went. Aidan was very happy. It's grand to get a Group 1."

In a blanket finish behind Athena, ThewayIam edged Chipolata for second.

Odds of the Top 3 finishers were 10-1, 11-1 and 36-1, respectively. The 50-cent trifecta returned 1,225.25.

La Signare broke on top to set the early fractions, which appeared to set up best for Significant Form as she stormed up the rail. Attention quickly turned then to Athena as she rolled outside, in the clear and all alone on the late lead.

"She's a very straightforward filly," Moore said. "She's taken her racing very well. I rode her before the start of the year and all she's done is improve tremendously. In her first out, I wasn't sure what she could do. The second time I rode her, she really impressed me. This was the third time I've rode her and I thought she was very impressive."

Four starts back, the filly, a daughter of Camelot, broke her maiden at seventh asking. That set up a fourth-place run in Ascot's Ribblesdale Stakes (G2) and third in the Curragh's Pretty Polly Stakes (G1) before Athena took a major step forward Saturday.