The 83rd Jockey Club Gold Cup
10th @ Belmont
All carry 126
The 83rd Jockey Club Gold Cup
10th @ Belmont
All carry 126
1. A P Valentine...Velasquez...Won the Champagne here last year and the only other score since was in an optional claimer at Hialeah. It's hard watching a horse like this, with the breeding and the muscle-boy looks, who just can't seem to unlock the door to greatness. Even with a less than stellar field this year, he still probably will wind up chasing the winner. Quite possibly his last race, then it's off to the shed!
2. Aptitude...Bailey...Will Frankel's charm run out now, or three weeks from now on this same track? He has yet to get over the BC schneid, but this is the BC preview. It'll be interesting to see if the front wraps are on tomorrow as they were at the Spa for the romp in the Spa BC handicap. He fared quite well on this surface in last year's Belmont, but let's not forget that was possibly the worst Triple Crown race of the modern era. Break-out race at the Spa last out, and plenty of rest following. He's got a BIG shot here.
3. Generous Rosi...Chavez...O'Callaghan is dangerous coming from nowhere in these BIG spots. I'd be leaning toward a bounce on this one though as he ran the race of his life last out and now steps up while picking up 11 pounds. Distance isn't a concern, dirt isn't a concern, and it's for sure he'll be a generous price. If one of the top 2 falter, he could pick up a piece. If he can pair-up, the win not out of the question I would think. Conflicting emotions!
4. Sumitas...Prado...He's probably better suited for the grass but not for a nice effort two back on the dirt at Delaware and front running at that. Perhaps Frankel is insuring an honest pace for Aptitude as he looks a tad overmatched, and might not be all that speedy. I'm thinking if that's the game plan, Aptitude is on his own here.
5. Scorpion...Espinoza...He popped that BIG effort in the Jim Dandy, then disappeared from the scope in the Travers. Wasn't all that much better in the Jerome. It's a good bet he still isn't recovered, but 3 more weeks might have been the ticket, without expending energy here that is. Plenty of Classic sires in this race. This one, the only son of a Triple Crown winner though. Sometimes, I think I could take DWL's barn and beat the stuffing out of him. But I'm here and he's got quite a head-start on me so we'll just keep things the way they are.
6. Albert The Great...Stevens...I made the trip up for this race last year and promptly picked Albert to score here. Six lengths at 5.5-1 with a tremendous, although buried, middle move he pasted them. Most likely the best performance of the year in North America. He's coming up to this almost exactly the same way. On his side for the BC this year is the fact that it is held in his backyard. 8-6-1-1 at BEL is a lot to ignore. I wouldn't be surprised to see him stride out by 4, or more--again today.
7. Country Be Gold...Davis...Nice 4th in the Woodward but lets be honest, he was the best of the rest and they weren't much to squawk home about. He wasn't going to threaten the top 3, and he won't again today.
Albert The Great should be on or very close to a not so hot pace. If he gets out in a 47 half, wave bye-bye.
Hard not to like anything Frankel trots out these days. Aptitude is no exception.
Generous Rosi has a shot to pair-up and make his presence felt. I have to use him.
1. Albert The Great
2. Aptitude
3. Generous Rosi
4. AP Valentine
Best of luck everyone!
© 2001 bBra