Oscar Performance earns personal-best speed figure in Belmont Derby

Amerman Racing's homebred Oscar Performance was in an upbeat mood following his impressive win in Saturday's Grade 1, $1.2 million Belmont Derby Invitational, trainer Brian Lynch said Sunday morning.

The 3-year-old ridgling by Kitten's Joy earned a personal-best 96 Beyer Speed Figure in notching his fifth win in eight career starts, besting an 11-horse field in the last of five graded stakes on the Stars & Stripes Racing Festival card.

"He looked good and came out of the race in good order and didn't leave an oat and seemed perky enough walking around the shed row today," Lynch said. "He broke a tad behind and had to ease on up there. When the half came up in 49-and-change, I felt comfortable."

Oscar Performance hit off the side of the stall at the break, forcing him to chase pacesetter Big Score through the first quarter mile before taking over the lead. Under a patient ride by jockey Jose Ortiz, Oscar Performance edged away under a drive to win by two lengths, marking his second straight victory after capturing the Grade 3 Pennine Ridge on June 3.

"He worked so good coming into the race and I thought the Pennine Ridge was a real good prep for him," he said. "I was confident he could get the mile and a quarter if he was able to dictate the terms, so in my mind it played out the way I visualized."

Now with a win at 1 ¼ miles under Oscar Performance's belt, Lynch said he's looking at the Grade 1, $400,000 Secretariat Stakes on August 12 at Arlington Park or the Grade 3, $250,000 Del Mar Derby on September 3.

Source: NYRA Communications