By Alan Carasso
Higher Truth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has had the misfortune of running into some of the best the 3-year-old filly turf division has to offer in her two most recent appearances, but looks to be the one that have to beat in Saturday's $700,000 Jockey Club Oaks Invitational S. at Belmont Park.
A 500,000gns purchase by Mike Ryan at Tattersalls October-Book 1 in 2019, Higher Truth won back-to-back races over 10 furlongs of this turf course during the spring/summer meeting, then just failed to reel in the fast-finishing Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and pacesetting Con Lima (Commissioner) in the GI Belmont Oaks July 10. The bay was getting to the latter when they last met in the GIII Saratoga Oaks Invitational, missing by 3/4 of a length. Santa Barbara also did her part to frank the form of the Belmont Oaks with her convincing defeat of older rivals in the GI Beverly D. S. at Arlington Aug. 14.
Speaking of the Chicago oval, former French claiming horse Shantisara (Ire) (Coulsty {Ire}) improved on a runner-up effort in the June 26 Boiling Springs S. to validate 9-5 favoritism in the GIII Pucker Up S., carrying Flavien Prat to a three-length victory.
Harakuju (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is an intriguing new shooter for the Niarchos Family's Flaxman Holdings and trainer Andre Fabre. The homebred bested Incarville (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the G3 Prix Cleopatre over an extended 10-furlong trip in May, but may have struggled with easier ground when only seventh to that foe in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary a bit more than three weeks later. Sixth, but close, in the G1 Prix de Diane June 20, Harakuju was short of room and fractionally unlucky when fourth in the G3 Prix de Psyche at Deauville Aug. 3 and posted a similar finish in the G2 Prix de la Nonette Aug. 21. Stephane Pasquier should have her handy to the pace and quicker ground could work in her favor.
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