The JC Gold Cup (Grade 1)- $1,000.00 Purse
BEL- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Quarter on the Dirt
September 18, 2026

There has been plenty of anticipation for virtual BEL to re-open and start showcasing some of the top horses once again, and while we have seen some racing here, we haven’t seen them of this magnitude, as the $1,000.00 Grade 1 JC Gold Cup makes it’s return to the track. This race has been held at SAR for the last five years, and gave us some great racing up I-87, but now it’s back in its true home. What’s on the line for this field of fourteen could not be any bigger, as sure, there’s a great purse involved, but there is also a coveted spot in the BC Classic there for the taking for whoever wins this race. It comes a no surprise, then, that the big guns have made their way here. Last year, Quiet Return got the win for John Henry but it might be going down as the 2023 KYD winner’s last hurrah. He remains active, but has not finished in the top half of any field since then. Still, he’s one of the greats, as is Spankersville, who won the two editions of this race prior to Quiet Return. What a great list to try and be the next name added to, let’s look at those desiring to do precisely that.

1- Eight West Party (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by M J Sanchez)- We kick off this not very quiet return to virtual BEL with a party, as the veteran Eight West Party, who’s name now includes is age, begins on the rail. He’s made an incredible 60 starts over his career, but you don’t need to dig deep into his past performances to see that he has never stopped running at the top of his game. Just two back, he grabbed the win in the Grade 1 Foster at CD, a victory that cements his spot in the BC Classic for the second time, as well as his third BC appearance overall. He has two other graded wins this year, but his last start in the Whitney shows he won’t always run a big one. That was the case in this race last year, but it certainly never stopped him.

2- Diametric (Mb Stables, ridden by R Santana Jr)- Mb Stables isn’t messing around in this field, bringing in three stars, to the point where Diametric is the lowest earner of the trio at close to $2,500.00 overall. The trainer has won this race five times, but never got a win in the stake while it was held at the Spa. Perhaps then, it’s return to BEL will be his return to the winner’s circle. As for Diametric, this is a horse that you can truly appreciate for running well, consistently every time he is out there. This year, it’s four wins and two seconds in his six starts, with the Grade 1 Pacific Classic and CD two races that he did win. Never failed to hit the board last year, either. Maybe all he hasn’t done is win the BC Classic.

3- Gymnast (Noblepark, ridden by F Pennington)- Take a moment to pause after beginning to look at Gymnast’s past performances. After all, after having Diametric just prior to him, it might not look like Gymnast has a chance against him. Fact is, he certainly does, as this four year old Great State colt is at the top of his game, particularly over his last four races. This includes a win in the Grade 3 PIM Special at LRL. After running competitively in the Foster, I’m not sure why he was dropped out of stake competition entirely in favor of a SAR open allowance. Yes, those are always mini-stakes, but there are always graded options this time of year. Noblepark got the desired result in it with a win, and now the horse is back where he belongs.

4- Criminal Law (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by R M Hernandez)- This post position number was red hot last week at WO, and now the trainer hopes that trend will carry into BEL for Criminal Law’s sake. He might need it. While he was looking good late last year and into this year, and earned a big win (in a dead heat) in the Grade 2 OP Handicap in April, the wheels have fallen off in his last four starts. These races were against elite competition, something that should always be remembered, but there’s little to be excited about. I would have understood if it was him, and not Gymnast, dropping into that SAR open allowance for a confidence booster. Hard to prefer him over the competition here, unless you believe in the number four’s current big race hot streak.

5- Maymun (Mo Mentum Farm, ridden by B Curtis)- There was a time late last year and early this year, where Maymun would find himself bouncing around from one barn to another in claimers. Four times in a six month period, Maymun found himself the subject of a claim, with prices ranging between $12.00 and $40.00. But, it would not be more of the same with Mo Mentum Farm, as the horse was inspired by being told he was running in an allowance and went on to win one at WO a few weeks later. He wasn’t done, as then won the $200.00 Commentator at SAR, then was second in the SD Handicap. Still not convinced? Well, he then ran second in the Pacific Classic last time out. This is a horse that got hopes up at two and ran in big races then, so maybe it just took a little time. Regardless of this result, it’s safe to say Maymun’s not going to be up for another claiming tag anytime soon.

6- Edward The Good (Mb Stables, ridden by R L Moore)- Now, we get back to that great trio of horses that Mb Stables has sent to the race. Edward The Good would not have complained if this race was still held at SAR, as he had a great time at the Spa, winning the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap in June and then a month later, capturing the Grade 2 Suburban there, though he needed to share the winners circle that day with another Mb horse, Charlie Jace. That one, who was second in this race this year, isn’t here, but may have been if the trainer could enter four. Edward The Good was fourth in the Whitney last time, but was within a length. He’ll be without regular rider, J R Velazquez, though that jockey still wears Mb silks for this race.

7- Sick Boi (Royalty Stables, ridden by E Esquivel)- Last year, Sick Boi was a regular entrant in top races, coming on both the dirt and the turf, but always seemed to need just a little more. He never ran badly, and did hit the board a couple times, but for the most part Royalty Stables was left empty handed despite the respectable effort. Eventually, his persistence began to pay off, as Sick Boi was excellent over the spring, rolling off a three race winning streak, which is highlighted by the Grade 3 Blame. The streak began right when E Esquivel was given the ride, and he’s never relinquished it. Last time out in the Pacific Classic, he was not a threat to the winner, but still earned a fourth place check. There are bigger names in this field, but Sick Boi will linger in contention here.

8- Extreme Jet (Mb Stables, ridden by J R Velazquez)- There have been some true greats that have won the JC Gold Cup in the past, and many runners in this field that would certainly be worthy of taking the next spot on the winner’s list for it. But, it seems like if we’re asking that name just looks like it would be a perfect fit, that would probably be Extreme Jet. Starting from post 8, the gelding has won about $8.8K in his career, one that has 8 victories. The KYD. The BEL. The Travers. When the stakes are highest, Extreme Jet knows how to show up. Last fall, the BC Classic was almost added to the list, but the photo at the wire went to Fawkes. He’s continued to run consistently in big races this year, and was third in the Pacific Classic from DMR last time out. Velazquez has rode him in every start since the KYD.

9- Don’t Ever Try It (Night Rider Stables, ridden by M Franco)- His name might be what some are thinking at the betting window when deciding to pick him or not. On his own, there’s nothing wrong with Don’t Ever Try It, but this is the JC Gold Cup, which is the toughest race he has ever been while on the main track. He was tried on the grass a couple times recently, including the AP Million, but was never a contender there. He’s won once over his last seven starts, the Grade 3 Valedictory Stakes at WO nine months ago. So, unless you want to take a few virtual dollars and have fun with it, because you never know and this is HRP, take the advice from his name and look elsewhere.

10- Jake From Statefarm (Gdp Inc, ridden by V Espinoza)- Quite an assignment that this seven year old gelding is stepping into. He spent the vast majority of his career in overnights, and then over half of those races came on the grass. While he was able to hit the board many times, it was at that level where he was at his best. Sure, every horse like that should get a chance, but for this one it led to a 22-month layoff. He’s made three starts since then, two more in overnights before running in the CT Classic, a $1,000.00 race where he was third. Taking this shot now is obviously deserved, but even though it’s a big pay out, it coming from the bullring doesn’t excite me as much as other $1,000.00 races when heading to BEL. But of course, he can turn me around.

11- The Stone Pony (Maletto, ridden by A A Gallardo)- Hit the board in seven of eight races last year, which helped him get into the BC Dirt Mile. Unfortunately for The Stone Pony, that was a struggle but is not something that has kept him down. Into his five year old season, the gelding has made four starts, being a part of the exacta in all of them and being on top three times. Two where ungraded PA-bred stakes, such as the $100.00 Banjo Picker Sprint where held off Fins Up in a photo. While the trainer of that one never thought, “let’s try the Whitney next”, Maletto did and The Stone Pony opened eyes by running second, which was ahead of the likes of Charlie Jace and Edward The Good, among others. He is an ex-BC runner, so he does know how to get it done, and I find him an interesting wild card in this field. Not sure if his odds will climb that high, but if they start to, he’s absolutely worth the shot.

12- Special Event (Nakamura Stables, ridden by D E Centeno)- There was a time where Special Event was running only in overnights, and even at tracks like BTP or FP. Then, around Thanksgiving that all changed when he took part in the $75.00 Turkey Trot at PRX, grabbing a win that kickstarted his career. It would be the first of four victories in a row for Special event, but the next three would all come at the graded level, and it was capped off by the Grade 1 SA Handicap. While that was his last win, we have still seen great runs from him, such as being second in the Foster two back. It’s really something how far his career has gone. This isn’t a turkey trot, but it’s a race that he’s very capable of winning.

13- Aztec Death Whistle (Langley Farms, ridden by G W Corbett)- While most of the horses in this field were running in big races in May, Aztec Death Whistle was in a $3.20 claimer at FP, and didn’t even win. What he was, was claimed, and Langley Farms turned him around, first by running him long for the first time, which he had never done in his prior sixteen starts. With Langley Farms, he is three for three, all while running long at PID. There is an ungraded stake in there, but nothing like this. It would surely be a great story.

14- Mr Monarch (Simmer Down Stable, ridden by E J Wilson)- Within a span of five days, Thinken Stables went from having two future JC Gold Cup runners four months later, to zero, and has $43.20 to show for it. Mr Monarch was claimed by Simmer Down Stables for $40.00 from that barn just five days later after Aztec Death Whistle was claimed from the barn by Langley Farms. Mr Monarch had run graded before, but would get another chance to do so with Simmer Down Stable in the Grade 3 Dominion Day stakes got a two length victory. The Whitney would be tried after that, and it was another great run, but a run that is always frustrating to virtual trainers, “fifth by a length (or in this case, even less)”. This horse never backs down from his competition, regardless of class, and he won’t let starting from the outside here stop him. I’m not picking him, but I don’t doubt that he could pull this off.

Prediction: 8-2-1-6

— NS

Categories: Uncategorized