Trikari Upsets in Thrilling Belmont Derby Invitational
New York, NY – July 6, 2024 In a stunning upset victory, Trikari emerged victorious in the Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational at Aqueduct Racetrack on Saturday. The 3-year-old Oscar Performance colt, owned by Jerry and Joan Amerman and trained by Graham Motion, delivered a gutsy performance under the guidance of jockey John Velázquez.
Trikari Surges to Victory
Trikari stalked a slow early pace, patiently waiting for the right moment to make his move. Turning for home, the chestnut colt surged past pacesetter White Palomino (5-1) and held off the late challenge of the 5-1 shot to win by a head. Post-time favorite Legend of Time (3-2), trained by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin, finished a length and a quarter behind in third.
“Trikari really showed his class today,” said trainer Graham Motion. “John (Velázquez) gave him a masterful ride, and the colt responded with a tremendous turn of foot to get the job done.”
Trikari’s Impressive Resume
Purchased for just $27,500 at the 2022 OBS Yearling Sale, Trikari has now earned over $996,000 in career prize money, including Saturday’s top prize of $412,500. The victory marked his fourth win in seven starts, with previous successes in the American Turf (G2) on Kentucky Derby day and a close third-place finish in the Penn Mile (G3) at Parx Racing.
“This is a huge win for the Amermans and our team,” said jockey John Velázquez. “Trikari showed his heart and class today, and I’m proud to have been a part of this effort.”
The final time for the 1 3/16-mile turf event was 1:54.71 over the firm Aqueduct course. Trikari paid $12.40, $5.10 and $2.60, while White Palomino returned $4.20 and $2.90, and Legend of Time paid $2.20 to show.
With this thrilling upset victory, Trikari has firmly established himself as a rising star in the highly competitive 3-year-old turf division. Connections will now likely evaluate options for the talented colt’s next start, potentially targeting prestigious events like the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic or the Breeders’ Cup Turf later this year.
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