Runner-up to Siskany in last year’s Belmont Gold Cup (G2), The Grey Wizard took top honors in Thursday’s renewal at Saratoga.

The four-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival opens Thursday at its temporary home of Saratoga, with the Belmont Gold Cup (G2) anchoring a quartet of stakes on the card.

After handling a challenging assignment in the Red Sea Turf H. (G3) on Saudi Cup Day, Tower of London was backed into 2-1 favoritism in a presumably better scenario in Saturday’s $1 million Dubai Gold Cup (G2).

Collared late by Broome in the Dubai Gold Cup (G2) on World Cup night, Godolphin’s Siskany had no such rival to deny him in Friday’s $250,000 Belmont Gold Cup (G2).

Following up on an impressive debut over the July Course, Commissioning was similarly convincing on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile in Friday’s Rockfel (G2).

Jockey Christophe Lemaire opened Saudi Cup Day with a triple aboard Japanese shippers in the turf races. Neom Turf Cup favorite Authority and Red Sea Turf H. outsider Stay Foolish benefited from enterprising frontrunning rides, while Songline rallied with a perfectly-timed move in the 1351 Turf Sprint.

The rich Saudi Cup program includes three turf stakes, all upgraded to international Group 3 status for Saturday. The 1351 Turf Sprint caters to the speed brigade, the Neom Turf Cup suits the middle-distance types, and the Red Sea Turf H. is a prize for stayers.