The highway to the 2024 Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic makes a second and remaining cease at Saratoga Race Course on Sunday, Sept. 1, when the 106th working of the Jockey Membership Gold Cup Stakes shall be held. The $1 million, Grade 1 Jockey Membership Gold Cup is a part of the “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Problem Collection of races that provide automated berths to designated World Championships contests – on this case, the aforementioned $7 million Longines Basic, which shall be held at Del Mar on Nov. 2.
The 1 ¼-mile Jockey Membership Gold Cup is among the sport’s most prestigious route races for horses age 3 and older racing on dust. It’s been held at varied tracks and distances over the previous century-plus, and has discovered a house on the closing weekend of Saratoga’s meet since 2021. Amongst its previous winners are legends together with Man o’ Conflict, Gallant Fox, Conflict Admiral, Whirlaway, Quotation, Hill Prince, Nashua (twice), Sword Dancer, Kelso (5 instances), Buckpasser, Damascus, Arts and Letters, Shuvee (twice), Forego, Exceller, Affirmed, John Henry, Slew o’ Gold (twice), Simple Goer, Cigar, Skip Away (twice), Mineshaft, Humorous Cide, and Curlin (twice).
This yr’s race encompasses a seven-horse area headlined by Arthur’s Trip, a rising star within the older male division who in his stakes debut emphatically received the $1 million Whitney Stakes, a Longines Basic “Win and You’re In” race held Aug. 3 at Saratoga. The Jockey Membership Gold Cup shall be broadcast dwell on FS1 as a part of NYRA’s “Saratoga Reside” present, with a submit time scheduled for six:15 p.m. ET.
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Learn on for details about the Jockey Membership Gold Cup contenders:
1. Tapit Trice
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Coach: Todd Pletcher
House owners: Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Steady
Profession document: 10 begins – 5 wins – 0 seconds – 3 thirds
Profession earnings: $1,453,650
Earnings per begin: $145,365
High Equibase Pace Determine: 106
Pedigree: Tapit – Danzatrice, by Dunkirk
Age: 4
Shade: Grey or roan
Working model: Stalker
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing info: Primarily based on a pointy comeback win final month to kick off his 4-year-old marketing campaign, Tapit Trice arguably stands the most effective probability to upset Arthur’s Trip within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup. After an excellent 3-year-old marketing campaign highlighted by a win within the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes and third-place finishes within the Belmont Stakes Offered by NYRA Bets and the Travers Stakes, this well-bred colt returned from a break of greater than 10 ½ months within the 1 1/8-mile, Grade 3 Monmouth Cup Stakes July 20 and romped by 5 ¼ lengths over odds-on favourite and JCGC foe Highland Falls. Tapit Trice displayed loads of expertise in his races at age 3 and confirmed within the Monmouth Cup that he simply is likely to be higher at age 4, incomes a career-best 106 Equibase Pace Determine. However, apart from Highland Falls the sphere for that race at Monmouth was pedestrian, and Tapit Trice’s 106 determine continues to be round 7-12 factors under the latest commonplace for JCGC winners. It’s affordable to count on Tapit Trice to enhance off of that return effort, and he’s already proven that he can compete on the mile-and-a-quarter distance. Irad Ortiz Jr. rode Tapit Trice for the primary time within the Monmouth Cup, and count on him to be aggressive in positioning his mount inside contact of Arthur’s Trip (and presumably stablemate Brilliant Future) within the early and center levels of the JCGC earlier than asking for his rally within the far flip. Ortiz received this race in 2017 on Diversify and in 2020 on Joyful Saver, the latter for Todd Pletcher. Pletcher shall be in search of a repeat win within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup with both this colt or 2023 victor Brilliant Future.
Wager Tapit Trice within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup Stakes
2. Kuchar
Jockey: Luis Saez
Coach: Rudy Rodriguez
Proprietor: LSU Stables
Profession document: 16 begins – 4 wins – 3 seconds – 3 thirds
Profession earnings: $388,340
Earnings per begin: $24,271
High Equibase Pace Determine: 107
Pedigree: Uncle Mo – Road Lady, by Road Hero
Age: 5
Shade: Bay
Working model: Stalker
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing info: Kuchar has loved success towards allowance-level competitors and positioned 3 times in his profession in stakes races, however this seems to be a tall order for a 5-year-old who has run fifth in every of his three earlier begins in graded stakes. He posted a pair of victories earlier within the season in allowance/non-compulsory claiming races at Aqueduct and completed third within the 1 1/8-mile Exclesior Stakes at Aqueduct in between. Coach Rudy Rodriguez then examined him within the 1 ¼-mile, Grade 2 Suburban Stakes June 8 and he pale to fifth after setting the early tempo, 2 ¼ lengths behind winner Crupi. Kuchar enters this race off a distant fifth, 10 lengths behind Jockey Membership Gold Cup entrant Tapit Trice, within the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup Stakes on July 20. There’s a excellent probability Kuchar will go away the beginning gate because the longest shot within the seven-horse area for the Jockey Membership Gold Cup. Whereas not fully outclassed on paper by way of Equibase Pace Figures, something greater than a minor award could be a shock from Kuchar.
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3. Brilliant Future
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Coach: Todd Pletcher
House owners: Repole Steady and St. Elias Steady
Profession document: 10 begins – 5 wins – 0 seconds – 2 thirds
Profession earnings: $932,940
Earnings per begin: $93,294
High Equibase Pace Determine: 112
Pedigree: Curlin – Sophia’s Music, by Bellamy Highway
Age: 5
Shade: Chestnut
Working model: Stalker
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing info: Final yr’s Jockey Membership Gold Cup winner Brilliant Future heads right into a repeat bid as a little bit of a wild card primarily based on his two races this yr. The son of two-time JCGC winner Curlin had come again from a layoff of greater than seven months to win his 5-year-old debut, the Grade 3 Salvator Mile Stakes, by 1 ¾ lengths June 15 at Monmouth Park. He then made no impression by any means because the 6.80-1 second betting alternative within the Aug. 3 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga and completed eighth of 10 horses behind a romping Arthur’s Trip. Coach Todd Pletcher stated afterward that Brilliant Future didn’t deal with the muddy observe within the Whitney, and now he’ll try and make up over 22 lengths on Arthur’s Trip on what is going to hopefully be a dry observe and at a distance he’s already confirmed he can deal with. Final yr, Brilliant Future received the Jockey Membership Gold Cup by a nostril over Proxy after he pressed the early tempo, incomes a 112 Equibase Pace Determine. He adopted that breakthrough win with a good sixth-place end within the Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic at Santa Anita Park earlier than taking the aforementioned break over the winter and spring. Brilliant Future is actually eligible to rebound after that puzzling no-show effort within the Whitney, and if he can cycle again to his Jockey Membership Gold Cup-winning type of final summer time, he’s acquired an upset probability towards a area that, Arthur’s Trip apart, just isn’t that formidable. Search for jockey Javier Castellano, who received this race final yr and in 2006 on Bernardini, to maintain Brilliant Future in contact with Arthur’s Trip early on and presumably problem that foe for the lead within the backstretch. Along with teaming up with Castellano and Repole/St. Elias Steady in 2023, Todd Pletcher received the JCGC in 2020 with Joyful Saver.
Wager Brilliant Future within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup Stakes
4. Disarm
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Coach: Steve Asmussen
Proprietor: Winchell Thoroughbreds
Profession document: 12 begins – 3 wins – 3 seconds – 2 thirds
Profession earnings: $1,146,790
Earnings per begin: $95,566
High Equibase Pace Determine: 107
Pedigree: Gun Runner – Simple Faucet, by Tapit
Age: 4
Shade: Chestnut
Working model: Nearer
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing info: Nicely-bred Disarm must run the race of his profession Saturday to have any shot at posting the upset within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup, and primarily based on his prior type this yr profiles as a late-running trifecta or superfecta filler at greatest. After a great 3-year-old marketing campaign in 2023 that included a second-place end within the Travers Stakes and a fourth-place end within the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve, Disarm got here again at age 4 and received a 1 1/16-mile allowance/non-compulsory claiming race simply towards solely three opponents Might 18 at Churchill Downs after which completed sixth within the Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill in late June and fourth within the Aug. 3 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga, the place he made up some floor in late stretch however was no risk to Arthur’s Trip. Disarm received his season debut within the aforementioned allowance race at Churchill in gate-to-wire vogue, however in his prior top-level races he’s normally positioned in midpack, and that’s the place he ought to be in Saturday’s JCGC below jockey Joel Rosario, who’s ridden him in seven of his previous 9 races. Search for him to be working late, however even with a well-timed rally Disarm doesn’t seem quick sufficient to win this race – though it’s price noting that arguably his greatest two profession efforts got here within the Travers and Kentucky Derby, each held at 1 ¼ miles. New Corridor of Fame member Rosario has two prior Travers victories on his résumé, aboard Flat Out in 2012 and Tonalist in 2014, and he almost received a 3rd final yr as his mount Proxy misplaced to Brilliant Future by a nostril after rallying within the stretch. Fellow Corridor of Famer Steve Asmussen has 4 JCGC wins: back-to-back in 2007 and 2008 with the mighty Curlin, with Haynesfield in 2010, and with Max Participant in 2021.
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5. Pyrenees
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Coach: Cherie DeVaux
Proprietor: Blue Heaven Farm
Profession document: 9 begins – 4 wins – 2 seconds – 1 third
Profession earnings: $516,316
Earnings per begin: $57,368
High Equibase Pace Determine: 108
Pedigree: Into Mischief – Our Khrysty, by Newfoundland
Age: 4
Shade: Bay
Working model: Stalker
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing info: After efficiently stepping up and proving himself a graded-stakes caliber racehorse this spring and summer time, Pyrenees faces a tricky activity as he makes an attempt to safe a Grade 1 victory in his second try Saturday. Final December, the son of high sire Into Mischief returned after a break of almost a yr and subsequently racked up three consecutive wins – back-to-back on the distance of 1 1/16 miles at Honest Grounds after which going 1 1/8 miles at Keeneland – earlier than making his stakes debut in a strong version of the Grade 3 Pimlico Particular Stakes Might 17. Pyrenees rallied from a stalking spot to submit a recreation three-quarter-length win in that 1 3/16-mile occasion over odds-on favourite Kingsbarns, after which confronted off towards that foe plus a number of different high quality runners within the June 19, Grade 1 Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs held at 1 1/8 miles. Pyrenees ran nicely within the Foster in his Grade 1 debut however settled for second behind spectacular 2 ½-length winner Kingsbarns, who sadly was retired weeks later on account of damage. Two runners Pyrenees outfinished within the Foster, third-place Skippylongstocking and fourth-place and odds-on favourite First Mission, got here again to complete a distant fifth and seventh, respectively, to Arthur’s Trip within the Aug. 3 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga, so it’s secure to say he’ll have to point out a brand new dimension in Saturday’s Jockey Membership Gold Cup if he’s to submit an upset win. He’s positively a must-use horse in exacta and trifecta tickets below common rider Brian Hernandez Jr., who almost received the DraftKings Travers Stakes final week at this observe and distance with tremendous filly Thorpedo Anna.
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6. Highland Falls
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Coach: Brad Cox
Proprietor: Godolphin
Profession document: 8 begins – 4 wins – 2 seconds – 1 third
Profession earnings: $642,060
Earnings per begin: $80,258
High Equibase Pace Determine: 111
Pedigree: Curlin – Spherical Pond, by Superior Once more
Age: 4
Shade: Chestnut
Working model: Stalker
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing info: This Godolphin homebred has assembled a great profession document by eight begins and has efficiently stepped as much as maintain his personal on the graded stakes stage this yr at age 4 whereas nonetheless seeking a career-defining win. A son of two-time Jockey Membership Gold Cup winner Curlin out of 2006 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Spherical Pond, Highland Falls made his graded stakes debut again in March within the 1 ¼-mile Santa Anita Handicap Offered by Yaamava’ Resort and On line casino. He completed fourth of seven in that race, however Highland Falls improved thereafter, working second to Skippylongstocking within the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap in April, profitable the Grade 3 Blame Stakes by a size over subsequent stakes winner Cagliostro in June at Churchill Downs, after which ending second behind comebacking Tapit Trice within the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup Stakes July 20. All three of these stakes have been held at 1 1/8 miles, which seems to be this colt’s greatest distance regardless of a pedigree that means he may deal with extra floor. He completed 5 ¼ lengths behind Tapit Trice because the 7-10 favourite within the Monmouth Cup, which isn’t encouraging for his probabilities as he faces that foe once more plus Arthur’s Trip in Saturday’s JCGC, however Highland Falls actually has a shot to hit the board along with his greatest effort. Jockey Flavien Prat and coach Brad Cox have received their share of huge races in recent times however neither has but so as to add this one to his portfolio. Godolphin’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum received the 2006 JCGC with Bernardini below his Darley Steady banner.
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7. Arthur’s Trip
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Coach: Invoice Mott
Proprietor: Glassman Racing
Profession document: 7 begins – 4 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $764,955
Earnings per begin: $109,279
High Equibase Pace Determine: 115
Pedigree: Tapit – Factors of Grace, by Level Given
Age: 4
Shade: Grey or roan
Working model: Pacesetter
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing info: Arthur’s Trip emerged as one of many main contenders for this fall’s Breeders’ Cup Basic 4 weeks in the past with a dominant 2 ¼-length win within the prestigious Whitney Stakes at Saratoga. The Tapit colt, who had solely made three whole begins at age 2 and three whereas taking time to heal from a tendon pressure, was patiently dealt with by Corridor of Fame coach Invoice Mott earlier than returning earlier this yr. He made three consecutive begins in allowance/non-compulsory claiming races and received two of them in spectacular vogue previous to his begin in a stacked version of the Whitney Stakes held at 1 1/8 miles Aug. 3 on the Spa. Jockey Junior Alvarado despatched Arthur’s Trip straight to the entrance from the ninth submit place in a 10-horse area, and the colt set strong fractions whereas unhurried on the lead earlier than powering clear from the sphere on the high of the stretch. He earned a 115 Equibase Pace Determine within the Whitney, and that equaled the determine earned in his prior allowance win at Saratoga in June, which was held on the similar mile-and-a-quarter distance as Saturday’s Jockey Membership Gold Cup. If he can keep at that stage, Arthur’s Trip shall be very robust to run down as he initiatives to be the controlling velocity within the race – and what’s extra, there’s a great probability we haven’t seen the most effective of this evenly raced colt but. Junior Alvarado and Invoice Mott teamed as much as win the 2022 Jockey Membership Gold Cup with Olympiad, and Mott additionally received this race three different instances: with the legendary Cigar in 1995 and in back-to-back years with Flat Out (2012) and Ron the Greek (2013).
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