The Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup will be run at Belmont Park on Saturday, October 3rd, and the favorite for the ten furlong test will likely be Belmont Stakes (G1) and Travers (G1) hero Summer Bird. He is the other bird no more, and he has become especially dangerous since adding blinkers and showing much improved tactical speed.
The Tim Ice runner should take up a nice stalking position once again, but a horse he vanquished in the Travers (G1) might turn the tables on him, and his name is Quality Road.
Many might remember Quality Road as the early favorite …read more

Saturday’s Breeders Cup preview card at Belmont Park was run on a sloppy main track and a yielding turf, conditions that will not be seen at Santa Anita in October, the site of the 2008 Cup.
The Grade 1 Beldame
Heavy fav Ginger Punch made the pace from the inside, but Lemon Drop Mom never gave her a breather, and she was worn down by improving Godolphin runner Cocoa Beach.
I have never been a huge Ginger Punch fan, but I will give her the benefit of the doubt. She is best as a stalker, and note that she parlayed …read more

Belmont Park had to cancel racing on Friday due to an abundance of rain, so Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup prep races will be run on a wet track and soft turf.
Grade 1 Beldame – Nine furlongs
Lemon Drop Mom has improved significantly in her last four outings, and she owns strong wet track breeding. She owns fine early/pressing speed and appears poised for a graded breakthrough.
Ginger Punch has won four straight and won last year’s BC Distaff in the slop. She was only a nose in front of Lemon Drop Mom last time, and I have added a replay of …read more

A field of 9 has been drawn for Saturday’s Grade 1 $750k Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park, but the big story could be the weather. With a 90-100% chance of rain predicted from late Thursday through Saturday, a sloppy track at the Elmont, New York oval seems a near certainty.
Curlin has not tasted defeat on the main track since a show finish in the 2007 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park. He has won six main track races since, including 5 grade one races, with his lone defeat this year a place finish in the grassy Man O’War …read more

Curlin is set to defend his Jockey Club Gold Cup title on Saturday (Sept.27th), and if he performs well, the hope is that his connections opt to ship to Santa Anita to defend his Breeders Cup Classic crown as well.
After finishing 2nd in his turf bow to Red Rocks in the Man O’War, Curlin was not as impressive in main track Woodward return at the Spa, but he ground out the victory nonetheless. He tries to recapture the brilliance that was on full display in the Dubai World Cup and Stephen Foster earlier this year, and standing in his …read more