With the recent injuries to Invasor, Scat Daddy and Harlington, let’s focus on horses that have made a favorable impression on the track recently — and three of them raced last Saturday at Belmont Park.

Makderah had looked like the real deal when romping to an allowance win at Belmont on May 31, and solidified her place amongst the top of the division with an impressive score in the New York.

Rating kindly at the tail of the field beneath Alan Garcia, Makderah, a daughter of Danehill, rallied best of all through the lane to win in convincing fashion. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has mentioned that he believes she can win a Grade 1 this season — and this effort certainly supports that stance.

Earlier on the card, Euro imports Wingspan and Lahudood engaged in a stirring stretch duel, with Wingspan earning the upper hand to score a neck decision. The pair finished over seven lengths clear of third-place finisher Brantley.

Wingspan was making her first North American start for Pletcher, and the Group 3 winner allowed Lahudood to get first run turning for home, and then collared that rival in deep stretch.

Lahudood was likewise making her first start on these shores for McLaughlin, and actually shows a work one tick faster than Makderah went the same distance on May 21 over the Oklahoma training track in Saratoga. While Lahudood was unable to fend off Wingspan late, it was her first start since September. This could easily be an allowance race we look back on later in the year as a loaded contest.