Ron the Greek posts romping upset in Jockey Club Gold Cup

Ron the Greek turned in an easy upset of the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont (NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography/David Alcosser)

Although no stranger to winning on big stages, Ron the Greek’s victory in
Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million
Jockey Club
Gold Cup at Belmont Park was nonetheless a major upset.

The six-year-old, sent off at 21-1, skimmed the rail for most of the 1
1/4-mile journey, rallied up the inside to take the lead before the quarter
pole, and proceeded to humiliate several of the nation’s leading older horses
and three-year-olds.

Winner last season of the Santa Anita Handicap and Stephen Foster Handicap,
Ron the Greek was understandably overlooked in a race where stablemate Flat Out
was seeking a third straight win in the Gold Cup, and classic winners Orb and
Palace Malice were battling for leadership in the three-year-old division.

Much of the blame lies with Ron the Greek himself. His only stakes win since
the Foster came in last January’s Florida Sunshine Millions Classic, a race
restricted to Florida-breds. He entered the Gold Cup having placed just twice in
his last five starts.

Tracking a close third as Alpha carved out fractions of :23 4/5, :47 1/5, and
1:10 3/5, Ron the Greek was driven up inside that rival by Jose Lezcano
approaching the final turn, opened up two lengths while passing the mile marker
in 1:35, and drew off to an emphatic 6 3/4-length decision in a time of 1:59 3/5
for 1 1/4 miles on a fast track.

Ron the Greek was under wraps when crossing under the wire (NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography/Chelsea Durand)

“I was where I wanted to be the whole way, tracking behind the speed, just
waiting for my moment,” jockey Junior Alvarado said. “I was outside; that’s
where he likes to be. When I asked him he gave it to me. He gave me a nice kick
and he was running hard at the end.”

Next under the wire were longshots Vitoria Olimpica, Last Gunfighter, and
Alpha. The two biggest disappointments of the race, Whitney Handicap winner
Cross Traffic and Kentucky Derby hero Orb, completed the order of finish.

Cross Traffic, who normally races on the lead, stumbled badly leaving the
gate, trailed most of the way, and only passed Orb in the stretch.

“He just didn’t break, and that was it. The race was lost right there,”
jockey John Velazquez said. “It wasn’t his style. We tried to make a run, but it
was too much to make up.”

It was the worst performance of the year from Orb, whose chances at a
divisional crown were severely damaged. The Shug McGaughey trainee is now
winless in four starts since taking the Run for the Roses.

“The only thing I can tell you about the horse is that on the backside, I
didn’t have any horse early in the race. He come up flat and empty today,”
jockey Javier Castellano said. “I never rode him before but he was in great
position today. He was in hand and just galloping along, but he didn’t fire
today.”