Belmont Oaks Invitational S.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Mark Casse and his son, Norm, knew that Catch a Glimpse was good. She took a seven-race winning streak into the $1 million Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park that included a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

But the 1 ¼-mile distance loomed as a huge question in addition to how she might handle world-class competition as a 3-year-old. She responded in a big way.

Catch a Glimpse snared the early lead, dispatched Ireland’s Coolmore on the far turn, and withstood a tremendous late surge by Time and Motion by a neck to earn the second Grade 1 triumph of her career.

“We thought we would find out today what she really was,” said Norm. “Now, the sky is the limit.”

Catch a Glimpse, a daughter of City Zip who was purchased for $75,000 at 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale, is undefeated since she ran fifth in her debut on a sloppy track at Saratoga Race Course last July 30 in a 5 1/2- furlong contest that came off the turf. She had never been required to run beyond 1 1/16 miles before Saturday.

“We were happy to answer the question today,” Norm said. “But at the same time, any time anyone had ever pushed her, she went on.”

That is what happened in her latest and greatest test. Although she appeared to be home free for jockey Florent Geroux once she outdueled Coolmore, Time and Motion launched a tremendous rally that had her gaining with every stride under vigorous urging from John Velazquez. Catch a Glimpse dug in, though, leaving Time and Motion to run out of time and ground.

Catch a Glimpse earned an automatic berth to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf since the Belmont Oaks is part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series. It spoke volumes about her quality that her time of 1:59.97 was faster than males ran two races earlier in the Belmont Derby Invitational.

“We were in perfect position and everything, but the other horse kept running,” Velazquez said. “She ran hard, but couldn’t get there in time.”

Coolmore settled for third.