Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park

Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 1 Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes takes place this Saturday, September 29 from Belmont Park - home of the Jockey Club Gold Cup that will be run later on the same card. $1 million will be on the line for fillies and mares three years old and upward as they go 1 1/4 miles on Belmont's inner turf track. The Flower Bowl is yet another Breeders' Cup Win and You're In event - this one for the Filly and Mares Turf Classic.

A very strong field of nine females will line up for the Flower Bowl which is race 8 on Belmont Park's ridiculous Saturday card. Post time is 4:38 PM. Let's take a look at the past performances of all nine ahead of this most important Grade 1 race.

2012 Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes Race Favorites

Zagora - Zagora appears to be the class of this race after great results recently and a good career in Europe. She has won four of her last six races - the Grade 3 Endeavor, the Grade 3 Hillsborough and the Grade 3 Gallorette and finished third in the Grade 1 Diana ahead of Hunger Island on July 28. Last time out was another impressive score - the Grade 2 Ballston Stakes at Saratoga on August 25. Trainer Chad Brown has this filly in the best form of her career indeed. In 20 career starts, Zagora has placed in 16 with nine wins, four seconds and three third place finishes. She is the horse to beat in the Flower Bowl.

Dream Peace - has raced all around the world with mixed results - four wins, two seconds and four third place finishes in 14 career starts. Last time out was a very good second in the Grade 1 Diana Stakes at Saratoga July 28 to follow a pair of pedestrian results overseas. Dream Peace also had a third in October at Woodbine in the Grade 2 E.P. Taylor Stakes to prove that she will not be out of her league in this one.

Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes 2012 | Remaining Field Entries

I'm a Dreamer - made quite a North American debut last time out with a win in the Grade 1 Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington Park on August 18. Before that was an OK career in Europe - four wins a second and three third place finishes in 13 starts. She is possibly the best of the terrific European Invasion for this race and should be a factor.

Nahrain - will make her North American debut on Saturday after a decent career in Europe. She started her career with four straight wins and had a second in the Grade 1 Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf back in November. Since then three European starts have yielded a ninth and eighth and a decent third last time out. Hopes are that she will return to her winning form - jockey John Velazquez should help in this quest.

Hit It Rich - finished second to Aruna in the Grade 2 Sheepshead and has won four of her last seven starts including the Grade 3 Glenn Falls Stakes last time out, the Grade 3 Orchid Stakes at Gulfstream on March 31 and the Grade 3 Long Island Handicap in November. Over the seven race span she has placed in all with results like a third in the Grade 2 New York Stakes, a second in the Grade 2 Sheepshead and a second in the Grade 3 Suwannee. Hit It Rich has been close when not winning and simply cannot be counted out in the Flower Bowl.

Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes betting at Belmont Park with OffTrackBetting.com

Halo Dolly - has 13 wins in 23 career starts including four of her last five - the most impressive win coming last time out in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at Del Mar on September 3. Other wins include the minor Solana Beach Handicap, the Almeda County Fillies and Mares Stakes and the Fran's Valentine Stakes. A break through last time out in a highly competitive graded stakes race has Halo Dolly on the radar looking good for this one!

Hessonite - is a multiple stakes winner - none of the graded however. Over the last year, Hessonite has wins at the Justenuffhumor Ticonderoga Stakes, the New York Stallion Series Stakes, the New York Stallion Cupecoy's Joy Stakes and an Allowance. She also has a second in the Pebble Stakes and a third in the Grade 3 Boiling Springs Stakes. More recently Hessonite has looked great - three straight wins in minor stakes action followed a very good second in the Dr. James Penny Memorial Handicap at Parx on July 3. Hessonite is in the best form of her career and could seriously threaten the Flower Bowl field.

Starformer - started her career in Europe and had some OK results. In 2012 she has been up and down - a seventh in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Churchill Downs was followed by a terrific win in the Grade 3 Robert Dick memorial at Delaware Park and a second last time out in the Richmor Aviation Waya Stakes at Saratoga on August 3. Starformer has three wins in 11 career starts - two of which have come in her last four races.

Bizzy Caroline - is a multiple graded stakes winner that last tasted victory on June 2 - the Grade 3 Mint Julep Handicap at Churchill Downs to follow a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming and a second in the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere Stakes. Since the Mint Julep, Bizzy Caroline has a fifth in the Grade 3 Modesty Handicap, a third in the Richmor Aviation Waya Stakes and a second last time out in the Grade 3 Glens Falls Stakes September 3.

2012 Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 8 on Belmont Park's Saturday card with a Post Time of 4:38 PM.