Ontario-bred Desert Ride faces biggest test yet in Jockey Club Oaks

In two of her last three starts, Desert Ride has proven capable of defeating her Ontario-bred counterparts in stakes company, but on Saturday the sophomore daughter of Candy Ride will take things up a notch when she faces open company in the $750,000 Jockey Club Oaks at Belmont Park.

Owned by Sam-Son Farm, Desert Ride proved versatile over different surfaces when she won the Woodbine Oaks and Wonder Where, respectively contested over Woodbine's all-weather surface and turf course. In between said victories, she faced males in the Queen's Plate at Woodbine and was a distant fifth. A first out winner over the turf at Fair Grounds in January, Desert Ride defeated winners two starts later at Keeneland in April.

Desert Ride has never raced over 1 3/8 miles before, but trainer Neil Howard believes that the distance is within his filly's wheelhouse.

"I think [the distance] should be within her ability, especially with the way she ran the mile and a quarter last time," Howard said. "She usually settles in where she needs to be depending on how fast they're going so she fits all of that. It's no secret that this is going to be a big step up going up against open company."

Howard said that Desert Ride has remained healthy without missing any training all year long and is hoping for a big run for her first start in an open company stakes.

"I don't think she has to win to prove that she's good against open company at this level," Howard said. "We'll be discussing with the owners how to finish off the rest of the year. She hasn't missed a beat all season long. Right now, we're focusing on this as a major test."

An Ontario-homebred, Desert Ride is out of the Distorted Humor broodmare Fun in the Desert who is a half-sibling to Canadian stakes winners Eye of the Leopard, Hotep and Deceptive Vision. All are out of Canadian champion racehorse and broodmare Eye of the Sphynx.

Desert Ride will be guided by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez from post 4.