Euro Invaders to Line Up for Belmont Gold Cup
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Photo: Caroline Norris
Wicklow Brave wins the 2016 Irish St. Leger
Six European invaders will line up to take on three U.S. graded stakes winners in a field of 14 for the $400,000 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational Stakes (G3T) over two miles on the Widener turf course June 9.
Renowned Irish trainer Willie Mullins, who has won multiple national hunt training titles in Ireland, has entered two runners who are winners both on the flat and over jumps. Wicklow Brave won last year's 1 3/4-mile Palmerstown House Estate Irish St. Leger (G1) at the Curragh and most recently scored April 28 over hurdles in the two-mile BETDAQ Punchestown Champion Hurdle (G1). The 8-year-old gelding, owned by Wicklow Bloodstock Ltd., will carry 123 pounds and will break from post 12 under jockey Javier Castellano at Belmont Park.
Mullins other entry Clondaw Warrior is group/graded stakes placed. The 10-year-old gelding fell short in the 2016 American St. Leger (G3T) at Arlington International Race Course, finishing second by 1 3/4 lengths. Out of three starts this year, all over hurdles, his best finish is a third. Act D Wagg Syndicate's runner will be ridden by jockey John Velazquez.
Last year's Belmont Gold Cup runner-up, Nicolas Clement-trained Now We Can, is slated to try again this year. The 8-year-old gelding is a group 2 winner in France, but is winless in his two starts this year, finishing third last out in a group 3 at Chantilly. Owned by Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Now We Can will be piloted by Julien Leparoux.
Another European invader Red Cardinal enters off a group 2 score in Germany for trainer Andreas Wohler and owner Australian Bloodstock.
Michael Hui's graded stakes winner Tagleeb heads the American-based contingent. The 7-year-old son of Hard Spun was second in the May 13 Man o' War Stakes (G1T). In January, the Mike Maker trainee won the grade 3 W. L. McKnight Handicap at Gulfstream Park.
Merriebelle Stable's Renown is on a three-race winning streak, taking the May 6 Secretariat Stakes at Great Meadow in Virginia and the Sycamore Stakes (G3T) last October at Keeneland.
Grade 3 winner Bullards Alley hasn't won this year, but most recently ran third in the Louisville Handicap (G3T) May 20 at Churchill Downs.
Belmont Gold Cup Invitational S. (G3T)
Belmont Park, Friday, June 09, 2017, Race 10
- 2m
- Turf
- $400,000
- 4 yo's & up
- 5:46 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hunter O'Riley (KY) |
Mike E. Smith | 117 | James J. Toner | - |
| 2 | Renown (GB) | Angel Cruz | 121 | Elizabeth Voss | - |
| 3 | Now We Can (GB) | Julien R. Leparoux | 115 | Nicolas Clement | - |
| 4 | Wall of Fire (IRE) | Florent Geroux | 115 | Hugo Palmer | - |
| 5 | Clondaw Warrior (IRE) | John R. Velazquez | 115 | William P. Mullins | - |
| 6 | Farz (KY) |
Jose Lezcano | 117 | Kiaran P. McLaughlin | - |
| 7 | Wayward Kitten (KY) |
Luis Saez | 115 | Wesley A. Ward | - |
| 8 | Roman Approval (KY) |
Joel Rosario | 117 | David A. Cannizzo | - |
| 9 | Bullards Alley (KY) | Marcelino Pedroza | 121 | Tim Glyshaw | - |
| 10 | Red Cardinal (IRE) | Eduardo Pedroza | 121 | Andreas Wohler | - |
| 11 | Taghleeb (KY) | Jose L. Ortiz | 121 | Michael J. Maker | - |
| 12 | Wicklow Brave (GB) | Javier Castellano | 123 | William P. Mullins | - |
| 13 | St Michel (GB) | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 115 | SIR MARK PRESCOTT | - |