'I have to give him all the credit' - Fozzy Stack praised after breakthrough top-level success in Belmont Oaks

Fozzy Stack’s decision to send Aspen Grove to the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks was rewarded as she provided the Tipperary-based trainer with the biggest win of his career and first at the highest level.

The daughter of Justify won a Group 3 at the Curragh over a mile as a juvenile, but had been well beaten on two previous runs in top-level company including when last of ten in the Irish 1,000 Guineas on her previous start.

However, Aspen Grove benefited from the step up in trip at Belmont Park on Saturday and saw out the mile and a quarter really well to score by three-quarters of a length under Oisin Murphy.

Stack’s previous biggest winner had been Aloha Star’s Group 2 success in the 2020 Airlie Stud Stakes. His breakthrough top-level win means he has emulated his father Tommy, who trained multiple Group 1 and Classic winners including Irish 1,000 Guineas heroines Las Meninas and Tarascon.

Stack, who took over the training licence in 2017 after his father’s retirement, was praised by the joint-owner of Aspen Grove, Craig Bernick, for sending the filly over in spite of her no-show at the Curragh.

“I have to give him all the credit," he said. "Her good races were good enough to win this, but in her bad races, she's nowhere. We thought we'd take a chance and we're really excited.”

Bernick is the president of Glen Hill Farm, who own the filly along with Coolmore’s Sue Magnier, with a stateside campaign likely to be the logical step for Aspen Grove.   

Bernick added: “We could go to the Del Mar Oaks, we could go to the Saratoga Oaks. It didn't seem like the distance bothered her. There's a great programme of races here, so I think she'll stay here."

Murphy was denied a big-race double when The Foxes stayed on powerfully up the home straight in the Belmont Derby but was unable to reel in Far Bridge, finishing second by a length.

Far Bridge and jockey Jose Ortiz win the Belmont Derby

Dropping back in distance having finished fifth in the Derby, The Foxes lost valuable ground when dwelling at the start of the $750,000 Grade 1 contest. 

Murphy had to sit in rear on the Andrew Balding-trained son of Churchill, who had won the Dante in May on his previous start over a mile and a quarter.

“He stood to jump and was a little slowly away,” said Murphy. “I followed the winner but wanted to sit closer in the run. The winner got first run on me as we turned into the straight. The Foxes picked up brilliantly, but I’d have loved to have been more forward.”

Far Bridge had been second in a couple of Grade 2s on his previous two starts and will be aimed at next month’s Saratoga Derby after going one better under Jose Ortiz.

Winning trainer Todd Pletcher said: “I really liked the way he was moving around the turn and then when he got clear in the stretch, I knew he'd keep coming. We always felt like the added distance was going to be to his advantage."

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