Ron the Greek wins the 2013 Jockey Club Gold Cup
September 28, 2013
The highlight of the Belmont Park Fall Championship Meeting is the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational (G1), a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Classic, contested at the Classic distance of 1 1/4 miles on the main track. A field of 8 older horses went to post on Saturday afternoon under sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 70's.
Last year's winner Flat Out was sent off as the 5-2 favorite off a close second in the Woodward (G1) after winning the Suburban (G2). In to challenge him included 11-4 second choice and Belmont Stakes winner (G1) Palace Malice, fourth in the Travers (G1) last out, and 3-1 third choice Cross Traffic, winner of the Whitney Invitational Handicap (G1).
Cross Traffic stumbled badly at the start, spotting the field 13 lengths while jockey Joe Bravo sent 22-1 Alpha to the lead on the clubhouse turn. Alpha set fractions of 23.99, 47.28, and 1:10.78 while 1 1/2 lengths in front of Palace Malice and 21-1 Ron the Greek stalking him second and third. On the far turn, jockey Jose Lezcano aboard Ron the Greek came through along the rail and quickly opened up a 2 length lead at the 1/4 pole through 1 mile in 1:35.08. Kept to task the length of the stretch, Ron the Greek drew off to an impressive 6 3/4 length win over Palace Malice in 1:59.70 over the fast main track. It was another 1 3/4 length back to favorite Flat Out third.
Results chart
Also on the card were the Beldame Stakes, the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, the Vosburgh Stakes, and the Flower Bowl Invitational.
The highlight of the Belmont Park Fall Championship Meeting is the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational (G1), a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Classic, contested at the Classic distance of 1 1/4 miles on the main track. A field of 8 older horses went to post on Saturday afternoon under sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 70's.
Last year's winner Flat Out was sent off as the 5-2 favorite off a close second in the Woodward (G1) after winning the Suburban (G2). In to challenge him included 11-4 second choice and Belmont Stakes winner (G1) Palace Malice, fourth in the Travers (G1) last out, and 3-1 third choice Cross Traffic, winner of the Whitney Invitational Handicap (G1).
Cross Traffic stumbled badly at the start, spotting the field 13 lengths while jockey Joe Bravo sent 22-1 Alpha to the lead on the clubhouse turn. Alpha set fractions of 23.99, 47.28, and 1:10.78 while 1 1/2 lengths in front of Palace Malice and 21-1 Ron the Greek stalking him second and third. On the far turn, jockey Jose Lezcano aboard Ron the Greek came through along the rail and quickly opened up a 2 length lead at the 1/4 pole through 1 mile in 1:35.08. Kept to task the length of the stretch, Ron the Greek drew off to an impressive 6 3/4 length win over Palace Malice in 1:59.70 over the fast main track. It was another 1 3/4 length back to favorite Flat Out third.
Results chart
Also on the card were the Beldame Stakes, the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, the Vosburgh Stakes, and the Flower Bowl Invitational.
