McKulick Eyes Start in JC Oaks Invitational Stakes

Klaravich Stables' McKulick (GB) will strive for victory in two-thirds of the filly division of the Caesars Turf Triple when taking on five others in the third running of the $700,000 Jockey Club Oaks Invitational Stakes (G3T) for 3-year-old fillies traveling 11 furlongs over the inner turf Sept. 17 at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet. Trained by Chad Brown, McKulick captured the first leg of the Turf Triple in the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) July 9 at Belmont Park en route to a runner-up finish in the second leg—the Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 7. The daughter of Frankel (GB) has never finished out of the money in six lifetime starts, while boasting a 2-3-1 record and earnings of $713,650. After finishing a late closing second against graded stakes company at Churchill Downs in her first two starts of the year, McKulick handled a stretch out in distance with flying colors in the 10-furlong Belmont Oaks. She tracked in fifth down the backstretch before launching a three-wide move around the far turn and collaring With The Moonlight (IRE) in the final furlong to win by 1 3/4 lengths. McKulick came up short of victory by the same margin in the Saratoga Oaks, which was won by With The Moonlight. McKulick demonstrated staying capabilities in her Belmont Oaks score, and Brown said the extra eighth of a mile should be within reach for his talented bay. "She's starting to give me that feeling that she might be able to do it," said Brown, who trained last year's winner Shantisara (IRE). "She ran into a really nice filly that turned the tables on us after the Belmont Oaks. I thought she ran really well. We'll try to complete the triple and run in all three legs. She's been very consistent. I'm very proud of her." Irad Ortiz Jr. will retain the mount from post 1. Australian Bloodstock's German-based Toskana Belle (FR) adds international flavor to the field, entering off a victory in the German Oaks (G1) Aug. 7 at Dusseldorf for trainer Andreas Wohler. The French-bred daughter of Italian group 1 winner Shamalgan (FR) sprung a 16-1 upset when defeating a dozen other sophomore fillies in the German Oaks, run at the Jockey Club Oaks distance. Internationally acclaimed rider Frankie Dettori is sure to give Toskana Belle his signature flying dismount should she win the Jockey Club Oaks, breaking from post 4. Completing the field is Christophe Clement trainee Canisy, Michael Tabor's Beside Herself, Ian Wilkes trainee Miss Yearwood, and Godolphin's Nostalgic.