The BEL Gold Cup (Grade 2)- $400.000 Purse
BEL- For Four Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Half on the Turf
June 7, 2019
A great weekend of racing is in store at BEL, but the great races aren’t all on Saturday. On Friday, we will get a good glimpse of hopefuls for the BC Turf. While the Manhattan is a much bigger race for that, this race also figures to be a preview for the BC, given some of the horses that we are seeing. We had a scratch in the field, with Early Retirement, the 2018 BC Turf winner, opting for the Manhattan instead. Last year’s winner, Bayou Quartier, ended up running the BC Turf last year. This is the fifth time that the stake will run, the third time that it runs graded, and the second time that it runs as a Grade 2. Let’s meet the runners.
#1- Barton Rovers (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by Mario Gutierrez)- The Forever Steel gelding has not been able to get away from the rain lately, with three of his last four races being on soft turf. That should not be a problem for Friday. It might be a little tough to measure just how good he really is, which could be part of the reason he races here on Friday and not Saturday in the Manhattan. The one time he raced on firm turf going a longer distance, he ran third at GP in the Grade 2 Diarmida, against a couple that he sees here again today.
#2- Happy Model (Estero Farms, ridden by C J Lanerie)- This horse has a tremendous track record of being able to get it done. He has hit the board in 12 of 13 races, and cashed some sort of check in all of them. He has climbed through the ranks this year and late last year, running in allowances and then top graded stakes. His most impressive start in that time is one he did not win, placing second to Lunar Blaze in the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile. This race seems like a better fit for him at this point in his career then does the Manhattan, but he will be taking on that crowd soon enough with a good run here. My gut feeling pick to win.
#3- Taniwha (Aml Racing, ridden by F Pennington)- One of the best horses in this division, but is needing some momentum right now. Therefore, running him here seems to be the better option as he looks for his first victory since winning the Pattison at WO last October. He didn’t fire in the BC Turf last year, but did run nicely in the Diarmida, finishing between Techfluence and Barton Rovers. His last race is a complete throw out as it has become apparent that as soon as there is a rain drop on the track, that Taniwha should be scratched. Another post near the inner portion of the starting gate. Glad to see things are evening out for the trainer there.
#4- By Design (Mb Stables, ridden by R Bejarano)- With Early Retirement going to the Manhattan instead, the trainer can now focus his rooting interest on just one horse. By Design probably has a little work to do, and must be better then he was in March in the Diarmida. It wasn’t only that he ran eighth there, he was beaten by seven lengths, placing well behind multiple rivals that he sees here today. He was dropped into an allowance at TAM, and didn’t win it, running second. The winner of that race, Unicorn, tried the Man O War last month but was well beaten.
#5- Penitentiary (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by J R Velazquez)- The veteran five year old will make the 24th start of his career while looking for his fifth win. His wins have been scattered throughout his career, something that can be both a positive and negative, although he seems to have several duds sprinkled in as well. That was the case with his last race, the Forester Turf Classic, though maybe we can blame the soft turf on that. His signature win so far is the FG Handicap back in February. He belongs in this field, but is not the type of horse that I would put money on.
#6- What The Farley (YME Stable, ridden by J Talamo)- Just recently, we have seen this well-named horse showing up at the graded level, but he is still looking for that first stake win. After being gelded last March, he became very successful in optional claimers, allowing the trainer to have a leap of faith in him. Comes off a third place run at the Grade 3 Ali at KEE in April, and will be about to race the longest he ever had, here. He’s been split on the turf and dirt lately, and I am not sure I think he is a better turf horse.
#7- Early Retirement- Scratched, runs Saturday in Manhattan
#8- Techfluence (The Sidley Stud, ridden by L H Colon)- This will be the 39th start of his career, and he has accomplished quite a bit throughout his career. His accolades include a handful of Grade 1’s, and one of them was in his last start, the Grade 1 Man O War. There is no question that he is one of the favorites here, and if he runs his race, there is no reason to think he can’t win. But, you have to ask, why is he here? The Manhattan being tomorrow allows a bit of critique on horses in a field that we are not usually able to have in the SRF. In a game where we need to consider return on investment and entry fees, that may be all there is to it. Not all trainers can make the decision that Mb did with Early Retirement so easily. Though, this isn’t a sure thing, either, as he faces a couple of opponents who’ve given him quite a run before. Don’t think the longer distance is the primary reason, he’s been great at both. I’d rather see him run Saturday.
#9- Commander Die Hard (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by A Beschizza)- A winner of just one race in fifteen starts during his career (broke maiden in 11th start), so on that alone is pretty tough to put him on top. That said, TwinTowers has proven me wrong at that conclusion so many times that he’s probably happy to hear me say that. He’s made one ungraded stake attempt in his career, but this is otherwise his graded debut. The key for him is this distance, and I think he will like it. Could surprise and get a piece of this purse, potentially at big odds. I’d throw him into a trifecta bet, but not on top.
Prediction: 2-8-1-3
— NS
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
