The BEL Gold Cup – Grade II
BEL   Race #5   1 1/2m   Turf   Graded Stake
Purse $400.000  For Four Year Olds And Upward.

1  Midwestern Slang   Smokey Stover    Albarado R J

Last years BC Turf runner up when only beaten a nose by the great Clockwork Chai, he, like so many has found turning 4 and not getting the 3 year old weight allowance hard to handle.  Bought for $450 he ran a non descript seasonal debut when fifth in the Pan American but he was entitled to need the run and was much better in an open allowance last time when finishing strongly for a very close second. Its way too soon to write off such a great horse and i can see him running a big race today.

2  Bring The Pain    Mb Stables    Pennington F

Just in front of Midwestern Slang in the Pan American he had a go on dirt last time but seems to be much better on this surface. A good second in the Hirsch Turf Classic last year he has failed to build on that run but like so many of the stables horses seems to be able to work like a grade one winner regardless of form. Difficult to assess but you can never write off a horse from this stable.

3  Le Roi                 Gdp Inc                 Colon L H

Snagged the turf jockey of the moment and on his last start looks to be running into some form. Running from the car park in the Fort marcy he nearly made all and was just outbattled by the great Spanish showboat. That run was on this track and he is drawn much better today so he is entitled to do just as well but then we know thats not always the case at HRP. Previously he had looked useful but not up to that sort of mark so it remains to be seen as to whether he can repeat that performance.

4  Bayou Quartier    Invicta Group Llc    Franco G

He has been in tremendous form this year and although it may be an error has a 109 speed rating recorded in his HRP form summary at the time of writing for the season so far.  After being beaten in a couple of allowances either side of New Year he ran a huge race to win the San Luis Rey and then followed that up with the Elkhorn. He clearly loves this trip and is the form horse in the race for sure.

5  Destin                 D J C Racing Stables   Bejarano R

The stable loves to have a go with their horses and this one is thrown in thanks to some fast works  and very consistent form. He hasn’t shown enough on the track to be a contender here but he always runs an honest race and deserves his shot at the big time.

6  Kenny Wisconsin   D J C Racing Stables   Maldonado E

Though his form is a bit patchy he did win the San Gabriel Stakes last year and isnt without a chance, albeit a slim one. He has won a race this year but that was a high end claimer and he may just struggle against a few of these. Regardless of form he is working quick enough but then 74% of the horse population at HRP seem to be working quick enough so that on its own shouldnt be taken as a guide to his winning chances.

7  Moms Guy    Mb Stables    Alvarado J

This seven year old was bought for just $41 at auction and despite some pretty ordinary recent form is of course working like a champion. He did manage to win the Diarmida last season so a return to that sort of form will certainly put him in the race and he looked like his old self when running well over a mile last time out so a good run wouldnt surprise.

8  Discover Decima    Threshold                Oritz JL

Lightly raced he has been on the cusp of a big win for a while now and really needs to step up. He stayed on well enough to be fifth in the Fort Marcy last time only beaten a length but was a bit lack lustre in the San Luis Rey the time before that, He has ability but will need to put his best foot forward from a  difficult draw today.

9  Im So Lucky    Sanny Village    Ortiz I Jr

Only cost $14 at the end of last year and with the wide draw will find it difficult to match some of these. He did improve hugely in his last start when put over a marathon trip so there may be a surprise in him if he gets a soft lead on a slow pace.

SUMMARY

The form horse for this race is Bayou Quartier who has been on fire this year but it is far more open a race than a one horse affair. All of the runners are working fast enough but then there are claimers working fast enough so we have to look at form to really work it out. The form of course is a tangled web of horses beating each other so again you come back to Bayou Quartier. If things dont go his way then a raft of horses have a chance and i think Midwestern Slang and the poorly drawn Discover Decima may be the ones to push him.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES