Belmont Oaks Biggest Challenge yet for Catch a Glimpse
The Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational attracts some very exciting turf fillies, but there is one filly in particular people have high expectations for this Saturday. Gary Barber’s Catch a Glimpse has garnered many fans during her race career. Though dirt usually reigns supreme in the U.S., a handful of horses make the turf just as exciting, and Catch a Glimpse is one of them.
Mark Casse has a stable of stars, and Catch a Glimpse has proved herself as one of the best, even receiving the endearing nickname “Mini Tepin” from her fans. In eight starts, the City Zip filly has tasted defeat only once when she finished fifth in an off-the-turf maiden event. Since then she has kicked clear of everyone who’s challenged her.
Back on turf, she won an allowance at Woodbine before taking the Natalma by five lengths. She then finished out her two-year-old season with a win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and earned three 2015 Sovereign Awards. Canada crowned her Champion Two-Year-Old Filly, Champion Grass Female, and Horse of the Year.
The $75,000 yearling price tag on Catch a Glimpse may not have suggested much, but the chestnut filly has continued her success into her sophomore season. She won the Herecomesthebride in her 2016 debut, followed by victories in the Appalachian, the Edgewood, and the Penn Mile.
The Penn Mile was her most thrilling race to date. It was the first time Catch a Glimpse faced the boys, and she didn’t just hold on to win, but rather left them in the dust. Stablemate Airoforce, who is pointing toward the Belmont Derby, came flying home late, but had to settle for second 2 1/4 lengths behind the winning filly.
Now Catch a Glimpse is one of the top contenders for the Belmont Oaks this Saturday, and the race could be her biggest challenge yet. There is no doubt she is talented, but she has never raced beyond a mile and a sixteenth, and she’ll have to stretch out to a mile and a quarter against other rising fillies in the three-year-old turf division to stay on her win streak.
Time and Motion is three for three this year and won the 1 1/8 miles Wonder Again at Belmont Park last time out, and though Land Over Sea is known as a dirt filly, she broke her maiden going a mile on the turf and has proven she can go longer. Auntie Joy will be coming off a win in the 1 1/8 miles Regret, and before that she rallied to finish second by 3/4 of a length to Catch a Glimpse in the Edgewood. There will also be a few European invaders to add to the mix.
It’s hard not to fall in love with Catch a Glimpse. Not only is she an excellent turf filly, but she has a stunning white blaze that catches the eye, along with a powerful stride. There’s no doubt Catch a Glimpse is one tough filly to beat, but she may need to show a new dimension if she plans on winning this weekend. Even if the Belmont Oaks ends up being longer than she prefers, you can’t take away the filly’s heart and will to win, and those traits can always be factored into any race.
By Christine Oser