Jockey Club Gold Cup

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

An impressive octet of runners will travel 10 furlongs over the main strip
at Belmont Park to contest the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup
Invitational S. (G1) at Belmont Park on Saturday. We’re siding with the wildcard
in this race, California invader RAIL TRIP (Jump Start). Second in his title
defense in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) last out before being transferred to the
Richard Dutrow shedrow, the five-year-old has been a top performer on the West
Coast for the duration of his career and could actually improve with the trainer
and surface switch. The speedy gelding should get a nice trip from his widest
post just off the pace, and if his works on dirt are any indication, he
should be the one to beat turning for home. We do have concerns about him
lasting 1 1/4 miles on this oval, but we do have a good feeling that he’ll be
primed for this and will get it done beneath Cornelio Velasquez.

Whitney H. (G1) and Stephen Foster H. (G1) star BLAME (Arch) has put himself
near the top of the leading Horse of the Year candidates for trainer Al
Stall Jr., and he looks like the one to beat on this occasion. The bay colt has
won eight of his 11 career starts while finishing in the top three in every
outing, and he seems poised for another top effort in this historic event. The
late runner seemingly always has plenty left in the tank late, and while we feel
that he might be a race away from his best, he’s still formidable. Garrett Gomez
has the return call.

Top three-year-old FLY DOWN (Mineshaft) was very unlucky not to win the
Travers S. (G1) last out for trainer Nick Zito when he traveled on the worst
part of the oval and fell just a photo short of scoring while charging home on
his wrong lead. We think this colt is as good as any sophomore in the country,
he’s obviously fond of this racing oval, and he could get a decent tempo at
which to run late from his rail post. Our main fear is that Fly Down could be using
this as a springboard for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and envision him
settling for a minor award.

Suburban H. (G2) victor HAYNESFIELD (Speightstown) had a four-race win streak
snapped when finishing fourth in the Whitney last out at Saratoga, but
the colt returns to arguably his favorite oval in this one. The four-year-old
chestnut has excellent early speed and has surprised us in his staying ability
at a route of ground, so we have to use him in on our multi-race tickets.

Synthetic specialist HOLD ME BACK (Giant’s Causeway) loves a route of ground
and has a decent late kick, but we can’t imagine many runners who have picked up
their first dirt win in this storied event.

Woodward S. (G1) runner-up MYTHICAL POWER (Congaree) looks a cut below these, especially at the
10-furlong trip. He’s also cross-entered to Sunday’s Kelso H. (G2). The late-running TRANQUIL MANNER (A.P.
Indy) seems to be coming into his own for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, finishing
third last out in the Woodward, but we can’t endorse his
inclusion in this race. Multiple Grade 2 winner DRY MARTINI (Slew Gin Fizz) ran the best
race of his life when taking the Suburban here last season, but the
Florida-bred is winless since and would be a surprise.