Tom Pedulla presents five key takeaways from the $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park and other major developments this weekend.

Far Bridge wins impressively. (Adam Coglianese/NYRA)

PERFECT TRIP: Far Bridge did not get the best of trips when he missed by a length in the Pennine Ridge Stakes and by a nose in the American Turf Stakes Presented by BMW. It all came together, though, for a one-length victory in the 1 ¼-mile Belmont Derby Invitational for trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey Jose Ortiz. “Everything worked out. We were able to save some ground pretty much around both turns, especially the far turn,” Pletcher said. “We knew he had a good closing kick. We just needed to be in position to deliver it.” Far Bridge, owned by LSU Stables, had a tendency to lug in during previous starts.

Charge It (Eclipse Sportswire)

WHITNEY CANDIDATE: Whisper Hill Farm homebred Charge It earned serious consideration for the Aug. 5 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga Race Course after he rolled to a 4 ¾-length decision in the $350,000 Suburban Stakes for Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez and Pletcher. The 4-year-old Tapit colt completed 1 ¼ miles in 2:01.31 to win at that distance for the first time in his 10-race career. “We’ll talk to everyone and consider the Whitney,” Pletcher said. “It was a good win for him. It proved he could stay a mile and a quarter. The spacing is pretty good if we want to consider the Whitney, which is obviously going to be a more difficult assignment. But he’s always been a horse that’s impressed us as a top-class horse. Maybe he’s starting to put it all together.”

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SIBLING RIVALRY: As the race wound down for leading jockey at Belmont’s spring-summer meet, the only certainty was that the winner would proudly carry the surname of “Ortiz.” Jose finished with 59 victories, one win ahead of older brother Irad to set the stage for another interesting duel at Saratoga. Jose Ortiz completed the Belmont stand with a winning percentage of 23.98%, reaching the winner’s circle with 59 of 246 mounts. His purse earnings stood at $4,921,926. Ortiz, 29, said in looking ahead to Saratoga, “I think it’s great to have momentum to go up there. He [Irad] is going to go there as the favorite, we all know. But I’m going to try to beat him again.”

Linda Rice confers with jockeys. (Eclipse Sportswire)

ON A ROLL: Linda Rice swept her fourth consecutive training title at a New York Racing Association track when she dethroned Chad Brown for Belmont’s spring-summer meet. It was the 11^th overall title for Rice, 59, and one that surprised her. “We had no thoughts we would win the spring meet here, so I’m delighted,” she said. Rice clicked with 34 of 140 starters, a 24.29% clip. She closed with $1,996,693 in purse earnings. Brown had rattled off seven consecutive titles at Belmont’s spring-summer meet before Rice abruptly ended his streak.

Melanie Giddings (Eclipse Sportswire)

STILL PERFECT: Maple Leaf Mel remained undefeated through five starts with a front-running effort in the $175,000 Victory Ride Stakes to provide her namesake, trainer Melanie Giddings, with her first career stakes win. Pro football Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells, who owns the sophomore filly, has long admired the Canadian-born Giddings, who was treated for ovarian and endocervical cancer in 2020. “I was more nervous for the filly than myself. I don’t even feel like it’s about me,” said Giddings, 39. “I just felt like she was 4-for-4 and I would just hate for her to have anything bad in her life. She’s been so good to me.” Maple Leaf Mel’s next target is the seven-furlong Test Stakes on Aug. 5 at Saratoga in a bid to secure an elusive Grade 1 victory for Parcells.