Annecdote (GB) Tops Field for $200,000 Athenia Stakes at Belmont

Annecdote (GB) has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite and will break from the outside post under Irad Ortiz, Jr. A four-year-old daughter of Lucky Store, the bay filly made her stateside debut a winning one for trainer Christophe Clement last time out in the Nobel Damsel (G3) at Belmont Park. She has won six of her fourteen starts, most of which came in her native Great Britain. Since her last race, she has recorded a bullet workout at Belmont Park.

Overheard going for second stakes win of the year

Second choice on the morning line at odds of 7-2 is Overheard, a homebred daughter of Macho Uno owned by Pin Oak Stable. Trained by Malcolm Pierce, the four-year-old filly is a multiple graded stakes winner and was last seen finishing second in the Violet (G3) at Woodbine. She has won five of her thirteen starts, one of which came this year in the Dance Smartly (G2) two starts back. Javier Castellano will be aboard for the first time and they will break from the rail.

Christophe Clement has stacked trifecta 

In addition to the favorite, Clement will also saddle Cushion (GB) and Maximova. Cushion (GB) is a longshot at odds of 12-1 and will have John Velazquez in the irons from post position eleven. A four-year-old daughter of Galileo (GB), the bay filly is trying to rebound after finishing tenth in the Waya at Saratoga in August. She won her only other North American start, an allowance race in June at Belmont. She has won two of her twelve career outings.