Horse of the Year contender LAWYER RON (Langfuhr), a spectacular winner of
A nine-time stakes winner, Lawyer Ron will be seeking his first victory at 10
“Anytime you have a horse set a track record at Saratoga going a mile and an
Lawyer Ron is bidding to become the fourth horse ever to sweep the Whitney,
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The Gold Cup is the last leg of a $400,000 all-stakes, guaranteed Pick 4
along with the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (G1), Beldame (G1) and Vosburgh
(G1). All four stakes are part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In”
series, meaning each race winner automatically qualifies for the respective races at
the Breeders Cup at Monmouth Park.
Curlin will attempt to make amends for a disappointing third as the 4-5
favorite in the Haskell Invitational S. (G1). Prior to that, he recorded an
excellent head victory over Street Sense (Street Cry [Ire]) in the Preakness and
finished second by a head in the Belmont S. (G1). The chestnut colt didn’t make
his career debut until February and has compiled a 4-1-2 mark from seven career
starts. Regular rider Robby Albarado will be up.
“His Haskell was disappointing,” said Steve Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve
Asmussen. “I don’t think there’s something you can really put your finger on,
but the Belmont Stakes was a tough race on him. These days he just seems a lot
sharper than he was going into the (Haskell). He’s going to need to be sharp
because Lawyer Ron’s a great horse.”
Suburban H. (G1) hero POLITICAL FORCE (Unbridled’s Song) and $2.1-million
earner SUN KING (Charismatic) are also in the line-up. Political Force recorded
a good second in the Metropolitan Mile H. (G1) prior to his Suburban score and
likes the main track at Belmont, posting a 2-3-1 mark from six attempts. The
Allen Jerkens charge has never run well at Saratoga, so the gray colt’s fifth in
the Woodward last time can be overlooked. Sun King rallied for runner-up honors
behind Lawyer Ron in the Woodward, and the Nick Zito trainee placed in the 2005
Gold Cup as a three-year-old.
Oaklawn H. (G2) runner-up BROTHER BOBBY (Out of Place) will lead the post
parade under Stewart Elliott. Next comes Sun King, Alan Garcia; Political Force,
Cornelio Velasquez; Suburban third-placer MALIBU MOONSHINE (Malibu Moon),
Channing Hill; Curlin; Lawyer Ron, John Velazquez; and multiple stakes victor
INDY WIND (A.P. Indy), Rafael Bejarano.
Each starter will carry 126 pounds except Curlin, who gets a four-pound weight
break from his elders.