Study Guide: 2021 Jockey Club Gold Cup

Sep 02, 2021 J. Keeler Johnson

For the first time in history, Saturday's $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) will take place at Saratoga rather than its traditional home at Belmont Park. The 1 1/4-mile 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) has also changed places on the calendar, shifting from its usual late September/early October timeslot to Labor Day weekend.

Six horses have turned out to contest the reconfigured Jockey Club Gold Cup, including a former Kentucky Derby (G1) starter. Let's explore the field:    

Total 6 start(s)	Top Speed Rating: (108) when winning a Saratoga allowance.
Wins: 4	Total Earnings: $209,375
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Don Alberto Stable	Sire: Speightstown
Breeder: Don Alberto Corp.	Dam: Filare l'Oro
Trainer: Bill Mott	Color: Chestnut
Jockey: Junior Alvarado

Winner of the 2020 Discovery S. (G3) racing 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct, Forza Di Oro recently returned from a long layoff to dominate a 1 1/8-mile Saratoga allowance by three lengths. This effort produced a powerful 108 Brisnet Speed rating, stamping Forza Di Oro as the fastest runner in the Jockey Club Gold Cup field. In a race without any clear pacesetters on paper, Forza Di Oro has the speed to take command from the rail draw and potentially lead this field all the way on the front end. He'll be tough to catch if he runs back to his flashy allowance form.

Total 10 start(s)	Top Speed Rating: (107) when winning the Suburban S. (G2).
Wins: 3	Total Earnings: $717,500
Place: 1
Show: 2

Owner: George E. Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbreds Corp.	Sire: Honor Code
Breeder: K & G Stable	Dam: Fools in Love
Trainer: Steve Asmussen	Color: Dark bay/brown
Jockey: Ricardo Santana

The fifth-place finisher from the 2020 Kentucky Derby fired off a career-best effort when employing pace-tracking tactics to win the 1 1/4-mile Suburban S. (G2) at Belmont Park two months ago. The dark bay four-year-old appears to be improving with maturity, just like his sire, 2015 champion older dirt male Honor Code. Max Player beat a strong field in the Suburban, including Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Mystic Guide, so the Steve Asmussen trainee is a dangerous contender to win right back in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. 

Total 26 start(s)	Top Speed Rating: (101) when finishing third in the Oklahoma Derby (G3).
Wins: 4	Total Earnings: $694,928
Place: 4
Show: 4

Owner: Estate of James J. Coleman Jr.	Sire: Into Mischief
Breeder: Morgan's Ford Farm	Dam:  Un Blessed
Trainer: Dallas Stewart	Color: Bay
Jockey: Luis Saez

Although Chess Chief was a stretch-running winner of the 1 1/8-mile New Orleans Classic (G2) at Fair Grounds during the winter, the durable five-year-old has seen his form slip in recent starts, with a fifth-place effort in the Stephen Foster S. (G2) preceding an unsuccessful turf foray in the Bert Allen S. at Colonial Downs. He'll need a turnaround if he's going to challenge against tougher competition in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. 

Total 6 start(s)	Top Speed Rating: (104) when winning the 2020 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1).
Wins: 5	Total Earnings: $374,200
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Wertheimer and Frere	Sire: Super Saver
Breeder: Wertheimer et Frere	Dam: Happy Week
Trainer: Todd Pletcher	Color: Chestnut
Jockey: Irad Ortiz

The 2020 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner won the first five starts of his career before coming up short in the Suburban S. (G2), where he ran evenly to finish a non-threatening third behind Max Player. Happy Saver never seemed fully engaged, but to his credit, he didn't give up down the lane and was only beaten 2 3/4 lengths. This year's Jockey Club Gold Cup doesn't contain much speed, so Happy Saver—typically a pace-tracking type—figures to enjoy a perfect trip. A step forward off his Suburban form can put the son of Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver in the hunt for victory.

Total 24 start(s)	Top Speed Rating: (101) when finishing second in the Monmouth Cup S. (G3)
Wins: 6	Total Earnings: $823,656
Place: 7
Show: 4

Owner: Steve Landers	Sire: Warrior's Reward
Breeder: Aschinger Bloodstock Holding	Dam: Bear All
Trainer: Brad Cox	Color: Bay
Jockey: Manny Franco

Night Ops has been suffering from a case of second-itis of late, occupying the runner-up spot in each of his last four starts. But the 2020 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker H. (G3) winner has been squaring off against tough company—in the 1 1/8-mile Alydar S. at Saratoga last month, Night Ops battled tenaciously to finish second by 1 1/2 lengths against Art Collector, who came right back to win the Charles Town Classic (G2). Perhaps stretching out over 1 1/4 miles can help Night Ops move forward and find the winner's circle.

Total 40 start(s)	Top Speed Rating: (102)
Wins: 8	Total Earnings: $592,633
Place: 7
Show: 4

Owner: Uriah St. Lewis	Sire: Flat Out
Breeder: Preston Stables	Dam: Fortune Play
Trainer: Uriah St. Lewis	Color: Bay
Jockey: Sonny Leon

A veteran of 40 starts, Forewarned enters the Jockey Club Gold Cup off a solid runner-up effort in the 1 1/4-mile Best of Ohio Governor's Buckeye Cup S. at Thistledown, where he fought gamely to finish second by a head. A son of two-time Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Flat Out, Forewarned has won twice over 1 1/4 miles and can't be counted out of the mix as a late-running longshot capable of hitting the board at a big price.