Jockey Club Gold Cup
 

Anyone have any idea who is going in the race other than Flower Alley, Bernardini and Invasor? I couldnt imagine that too many older horses would throw their hat into the ring with these three.

there was hope that jazil would run there, but i would think that would be a hell of a comeback race for him!
invasor was going to the jcgc or the whitney, with him opting for the whitney, i wonder if sun king goes here? there's always commentator, who makes his return this wknd.

but i haven't seen anyone really commit to the race, other than bernardini....walkover?? lol yeah, right...

So Invasor is going in the Whitney? That is surprising. I am sure it wont be a walk-over. 2nd and 3rd in the JCGC is still a nice piece of change.

Given that we haven't had a walkover in US racing since like 1980, I'm doubting this year's Jockey Club Gold Cup would be one.

that's why i put the lol yeah right....

the bid was the last. damn that guy was something.

but invasor was going to the whitney or the jcgc, and they decided on the former before bern was announced as going to the latter. but no doubt mcglaughlin knew the future plans. avoidance til the bcc.

which one is flower alley going to?

The last time a walkover occurred in a North American stakes race was on December 7, 1997, when Sharp Cat won the Bayakoa Handicap (G2) at Hollywood Park. ...

Per David Grening's article in the DRF, Invasor is still set for the Gold Cup. It's a good piece - John Ward thinks Invasor has the edge simply because he's been through the wars (not on ability) and Nick Zito believes Bernardini is just plain better.

What I liked reading about is that Bernardini was so fresh after the race, Albetrani is quoted as saying that he needed two handlers to bring him back to the barn. The horse looked magnificent before and after the race.....

I hope to be at Belmont on Gold Cup day........

you guys mean the woodward not the whitney, right?

I dont know, I am confused.

What is the confusion? They ran the Whitney weeks ago and Invasor has already won that race.

They both start with a W. What do you expect? LOL

Invasor will be exposed. A good horse that isnt going to be anywhere near the lights come bc time.

I'm not sold on Invasor either. Especially after his last race. Barely beating Sun King dampened my enthusiam for him a lot. But he could still run very well in the BC and just get beaten by three better horses in Discreet Cat, Bernardini, and Lava Man. I don't think that would expose him just show that there are better horses.

Imo, it doesn't really matter who goes in the JCGC unless it is Bernardini, Invasor or Lava Man because if Invasor and Lava Man don't show up, then Bernardini will just win in a romp as usual.

well, lava man isn't going to be there. one more race and then to churchill to get acclimated.

also, keep in mind that invasor, unlike many other horses past and present, ran in dubai and hasn't taken much time off since...i'm sure a close race can be forgiven, he's going to have lesser efforts--yet still a win! so much for the jinx of running in dubai and missing all year. he hasn't lost since that race to discreet cat, who just came back friday.

that is so strange, i remember reading similar statements a year ago about flower alley....

altho i will grant you that bernardini doesn't seem to be a flower alley.

Flower Alley had an excuse and he clearly made up for it in the BCC.

No Bernardini is clearly not comprable to Flower Alley. Please dont confuse the two. Nothing against Flower Alley and I truly hope he comes back and restablishes himself as a prominent 4 year old, but Berardini is simply amazing. Horses like this come around once a twice per decade. Reminds me of Ghostzapper with his versatility and the way he just laughs at the other horses.

yeah, i know. got him the eclipse...oh wait, no it didn't....but it lead to bigger and better this year....oh wait...


i wonder if the bc winners lists will have an * and show that flower alley finished second last year....cause none of the other years lists show who ran second.

lol don't get me wrong, you'd have to be on crack to confuse the two!

he's a beauty. makes it look easy as pie. but i like him more than i ever liked ghostzapper. at least he's run more times in a year than i have fingers on one hand...

i'm getting ahead of myself, but i'm hoping he can carry on the legend at stud from his sire and grandsire. no doubt he will be given every opportunity. his owner has the sheer drive, and the funds to back it up.

I completely agree with your point Danzig. I have never heard so much credit given for a 2nd place finish in my life than Flower Alley got in the BC. He wasnt even close to threatening the winner. Nice effort but lets not get carried away. He didnt lose a close photo and he lost! Sure he was 3 against older horses but he lost while never threatening Saint Liam.