Three Diamonds Farm's multiple graded-stakes winning New York-bred Cross Border has made his last three starts over jumps, but will return to the flat in Friday's Grade 2, $250,000 Belmont Gold Cup, a two-mile Widener turf test for older horses, at Belmont Park.
The 9-year-old English Channel ridgling made five starts for trainer Keri Brion dating to September, including his last three over hurdles led by a maiden score traveling 2 1/16-miles in March at Aiken ahead of a distant fourth last-out in a 2 1/2-mile handicap over soft ground on April 29 at Charlotte.
Cross Border recently rejoined the barn of Mike Maker, who conditioned the dark bay from 2019-August 2022, and has posted a trio of works over the Belmont dirt training track including a half-mile effort in 52 flat this morning.
“He's the same old Cross Border. He's a sound, hickory horse,” Maker said.
Bred in the Empire State by Berkshire Stud and B. D. Gibbs, Cross Border captured back-to-back editions of the 11-furlong Grade 2 Bowling Green in 2020-21. The ultra-consistent Cross Border sports a ledger of 49-12-8-6 for purse earnings in excess of $1.1 million.
He will be in search of his first win in 10 attempts over the Belmont green, having hit the board on four occasions.
“It looks like a tough spot to make his comeback, but we'll see,” Maker said.
Irad Ortiz, Jr. will pilot Cross Border from post 12 as part of a stacked 13-horse field that includes European raiders Siskany and High Definition.
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