The Gold Cup (Grade 1) (BC)- $500.000 Purse
SA- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and a Quarter on The Dirt
June 27, 2015

Back in April, No Trippin and Niagra hit the wire pretty much side by side in the CT Classic, but the reigning BC Classic winner was able to get the win by half a length.   Today, they would do the same thing again, only this time No Trippin got a neck in front to be declared the winner.  It will probably take a few more meetings like this to declare this a rivalry, but for now Niagra has found his match in a horse that’s older then his father.   No Trippin was in the BC Classic last year, and with this victory he can be again should Mb Stables enter him but on that day he could not threaten Niagra.  Right now, this eight year old gelding by Five Daddy Five is in the best form of his career.  Looking at the history of his 55 career starts, you can’t help but wonder how much he could have won if he was not at the free track for an extended period of time, with so many opportunities to be claimed for cheap amounts.  This win now puts him over $1,100.000 in lifetime earnings.  For Mb Stables, the Gold Cup is becoming his race as he has now won it for three consecutive years, and with three different horses each with different jockeys.  I Ortiz Jr, No Trippin’s regular jockey since March, earned his first Gold Cup.  Congratulations to all of the connections, and here is a deeper look at how it all went down!

1st- 4- No Trippin (3/1)- The eventual race winner didn’t look as though he was about to win a race at the beginning, as I Ortiz had him well off the pace for Mb Stables as much as nine lengths back.   Remained unhurried in the backstretch until late when the urging forward began to take place.  Handled the turn brilliantly, and by the top of the stretch he had made up considerable distance and was only a length behind Hallelujah, who had been in second.  It seemed like this was going to be the best he was going to get when he passed Hallelujah, but I Ortiz would not settle for second, knowing the likelihood the Niagra may be tiring on the front end if the trainer’s plan had been executed.  With a furlong to go, which would have been where the aforementioned CT Classic ended, he was still more then two lengths back.   This didn’t matter to No Trippin, who got up just in time for the win!  No Trippin is an eight year old by Five Daddy Five and out of Smokin June who was bred in California by Pumpkin Racing.   It was his 22nd win in 55 career races and second Grade 1 win.  Congratulations to all of the connections!

2nd- 6- Niagra (7/2)- Started well for D J C Racing Stables, but he may have given in to chasing Xmas Diamond a little too hard at the start.  Second around the opening turn, less then a length from the lead.  Continued to race along Xmas Diamond as the backstretch run, and cleared him about midway through it, setting the 3/4 mark in 1:10.17.  By the exit of the turn, Niagra jumped out to a three length lead and seemed destined for victory as we would expect from him.  Even with one furlong go, he still led by two and a half lengths.  When No Trippin came calling, Niagra was clearly tired and had no answer.

3rd- 7- Hallelujah (12/1)- Good start for the Eastern Equine entry who knows how to get in the money, if not win.   He stalked the quick pace early, staying about a length or two back.  Maintained this gap during the backstretch, even when Niagra made his move to get by Xmas Diamond.  Hallelujah ran even with Xmas Diamond for a while until that one realized he had done his job and packed it in.   Even though it was clear that he was not going to hold off No Trippin, and he was losing ground to Niagra, Hallelujah actually did well to hold on to his third position.

4th- 9 – Visa Vice (5/1)- Towards the back early for Mb Stables, and the quick pace set by stablemate/rabbit Xmas Diamond seemed like it would benefit his running style just as much as No Trippin, making Mb Stables probable game plan well executed.  Advanced a little during the backstretch, positioning himself for the stretch.   Strong at the top of the stretch, then his run tailed off a little bit.  This allowed him to get into fourth and hold off his stablemate.

5th- 8 – Spanish Showboat (6/1)- Fourth in the early going, but five lengths behind the third place Hallelujah around the opening turn and those behind him cleared by about a length so he appeared positioned very well if the pace collapsed.   Appeared as though he was going to inch closer to the leaders in the backstretch, but then backed off.  Continued a steady, if not a bit unspectacular stretch run and just missed his stablemate.

6th- 3- Victory Meal (13/1)- Towards the back early for Pumpkin Racing as the middle horse of a three wide group around the first turn.   Maintained his position for the backstretch, and seemed good in the turn, but No Trippin took the lane that he may have preferred to have.  Did not show a whole lot in the stretch.

7th- 2- Rumby Willie (47/1)- As expected, the deep closer from Wolfs Den was at the back of the pack early.   He simply let the field get away from him too much at the start.  At the top of the stretch, he looked good, and made a closing bid, but this was too strong of a field for him to make much headway.   He can be formidable closing like this in a smaller stake, though.

8th- 1- Clementine Cottage (11/1)- The A and I Stables entry was unhurried early, content to run his race along the rail.  Continued to be unhurried during the turn, and even those that had been behind him were getting by.  Clementine Cottage simply did not have it today and appeared outclassed.  Didn’t show much.

9th- 5- Xmas Diamond (6/1)- A disappointing race for this gelding on paper, but you have to wonder if he actually did exactly what he was sent out to do by Mb Stables.  He jumped out to a quick lead, setting the opening half in :46 and 2, which is something not normally seen from him in races at 1 1/8, let alone 1 1/4.  It helped to set a quick pace, and Niagra was up there with him early.  While Niagra was strong throughout, did this keep him from having enough to hold off No Trippin at the very end?  If this was the plan, well done to Mb, and make it a throw out for Xmas Diamond.

Track: Fast
Time: :46²  1:10   1:34²  2:00⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 4 – 6 Paid 9.80
$1 Trifecta: 4 – 6 – 7 Paid 58.30

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade I