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Like The King Stays On Turf, Takes On Brown Pair In Saranac

Kentucky Derby-participant Like the King has continued to acclimate to a surface change in his last two starts and will now look to become a duel-surface graded stakes-winner as he headlines a six-horse field of 3-year-olds in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Saranac at 1 1/16 miles on Saratoga Race Course's inner turf.

The 114th running of the Saranac, slated as Race 8 on the 12-race card, will be part of a packed day that includes the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold up for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/4 miles in a “Win and You're In” qualifier to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic in November at Del Mar; the Grade 1, $600,000 Flower Bowl for older fillies and mares going 1 3/8 miles on the turf [“Win and You're In” for Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf; and the Grade 3, $250,000 Prioress for 3-year-old fillies sprinting six furlongs. First post will be 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

M Racing Group's Like the King earned a spot in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby by capturing the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks in March over Turfway Park's all-weather track. Trainer Wesley Ward took a shot with the Palace Malice colt in the “Run for the Roses,” as Like the King finished 12th in the 19-horse field on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs.

Ward then switched Like the King to turf, where he ran fifth in the Audubon going 1 1/8 miles on May 29 at Churchill Downs in his first attempt. He improved next out going the same distance, finishing second, one length behind Yes This Time, in the Grade 3 Kent on July 3 at Delaware Park.

“He earned his way in there,” Ward said about the Kentucky Derby. “I kind of thought at least going into the race, he comes from behind and you never know what happens when you have horses that make one big run. We knew we were overmatched looking at his odds and all that. Unfortunately, we were beaten on the square by better horses, but I thought his future was going to be on the grass.”

Like the King continued to train at Keeneland before shipping to Saratoga for his first start at the historic track, posting a bullet five-furlong breeze in 59.80 seconds on August 30 over the main track.

Hall of Famer John Velazquez will ride, departing from post 2.

Chad Brown, who is looking to secure his fourth Saratoga training title for a meet that concludes on Monday, will send out two contenders who will look to boost his win total.

Klaravich Stables' Public Sector will look for his second graded stakes win of the meet after tallying a one-length score in the Grade 2 Hall of Fame on August 6. The British-bred son of Kingman has only failed to come in first or second once in seven career starts, when capping his 2-year-old campaign with a 12th-place effort in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf in November at Keeneland.

Public Sector has started his sophomore year with two wins and two seconds, including a runner-up in the Manila on July 4 at Belmont before his Saratoga triumph last month under jockey Flavien Prat, who helped Public Sector adapt to a moderate pace before coaxing a strong turn-of-foot in powering home a winner over Annex.

On Saturday, Irad Ortiz, Jr., the winner of the last three Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Rider, will pick up the mount and break from the inside post.

“It really was a great ride last out by Flavien,” Brown said. “He continues to improve and develop into a real top horse, so hopefully it's another step forward again.”

Jeff Drown and Don Rachel's Founder is also a last-out stakes winner, posting a 1 1/4-length victory in the Tale of the Cat going 1 1/16 miles on July 31 at Monmouth Park. The stakes win marked Founder's second career turf start, with his first foray on the grass a sixth-place effort against optional claimers on June 4 at Belmont.

The Upstart ridgling's next attempt on turf was thwarted when rained forced his July 3 start to a sloppy and sealed main track, where Founder still ran second before his breakthrough in the Tale of the Cat over firm going.

“He's really improving. I think he's found a nice new path on the turf,” Brown said. “Hopefully, he's another one that continues to improve.”

Jose Ortiz will be in the irons from post 5 for Founder, a $600,000 purchase at the 2020 OBS Sale.

“Observing his training and with his turf breeding on the bottom, we thought we'd give it a shot and so far, it's worked out,” Brown said.
Founder is out of the Bernstein mare Blue Beryl, who graduated on debut on the Belmont turf in 2015.

Brown also has Risk Taking, eighth in the Grade 1 Preakness in May at Pimlico, entered for the main track only.

Repole Stable's lightly raced Never Surprised went 2-for-2 as a juvenile, winning his debut on November 8 at the Big A before capturing the Central Park later that month at the same track. After running second in his 2021 bow in the Grade 3 Kitten's Joy in January at Gulfstream Park, Never Surprised will be making his first start off a seven-month layoff for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

A son of Constitution, Never Surprised was purchased for $200,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Meet-leading rider Luis Saez will pick up the mount for the first time, drawing post 4.

Roseland Farm Stable's He'spuregold will put his two-race winning streak on the line, making his first Saratoga start off victories at Monmouth, including a last-out one-length score in the Irish War Cry Handicap on July 24 going one mile.

Trainer Kelly Breen saw He'spuregold earn a personal-best 81 Beyer Speed Figure for his last-out win. Overall, the gelded son of Vancouver is 2-2-3 in eight career starts. Ricardo Santana, Jr. will have the call from post 3.

Rounding out the field is Mohs, who will graduate to stakes company for the first time after notching two wins in six career starts for trainer Patrick McBurney. Tyler Gaffalione will pick up the mount, breaking from post 6.

Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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Souper Sensational Returns To The Spa For Prioress

Live Oak Plantation's graded stakes-winner Souper Sensational will look to build on a strong runner-up effort in a stakes sprint at Saratoga Race Course with a return engagement at the summer meet, headlining a six-horse field of 3-year-old fillies in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Prioress contested at six furlongs at the Spa.

The 74th running of the Prioress, slated as Race 5 on the 12-race card, will be part of a packed day that includes the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold up for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/4 miles in a “Win and You're In” qualifier to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic in November at Del Mar; the Grade 1, $600,000 Flower Bowl for older fillies and mares going 1 3/8 miles on the turf [“Win and You're In” for Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf; and the Grade 3, $200,000 Saranac for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. First post will be 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

Souper Sensational notched her first graded stakes win with a 3 1/4-length score in the Grade 3 Victory Ride on July 10 at Belmont. Making her Saratoga debut, Souper Sensational stalked the pace before running second to Bella Sofia in the Grade 1 Longines Test contested at seven furlongs on August 7 over a fast track.

Returning three weeks later and shortened up in distance, the daughter of Hall of Famer Curlin will again team with jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr., drawing the outermost post.

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse said Souper Sensational, a $725,000 purchase at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Select Sale, has been training forwardly at Saratoga since the Test, including a four-furlong breeze in 47.88 seconds on August 25 over the main track.

“She's doing well. She's a nice horse,” Casse said. “We've been proud of her efforts. She came out of the Test well and is doing everything right.”

Holly Hill Stables' Edie Meeny Miny Mo handled the step up in class last out, running second to Leader of the Band in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks on July 31.

Unraced as a juvenile, the Miguel Vera trainee dominated in her first two career starts at Monmouth, posting a 4 1/4-length debut win on April 23 at six furlongs before besting optional claimers going the same distance on June 13.

After making a strong account of herself against steeper competition, the Upstart filly will make her Saratoga debut with Hall of Famer Victor Espinoza, who rode her in the Monmouth Oaks, back in the irons from post 2.

“She's going to get to the race in perfect condition. I'm very happy with the way she's training,” Vera said. “I'm excited to see her run in New York. The last race, I was happy with how she ran. She didn't break sharp enough but then she did everything right. I'd be more confident if she can sit behind the speed, like we had planned it for that race, but there was no speed in there, so she had to go on the lead. I still think she did awesome for the first time in a graded stakes and going two turns.”

Edie Meeny Mino Mo was a $400,000 purchase at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Mid-Atlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Vera said returning to sprinting could also be a positive for his horse, who will add blinkers.

“I think she can be a good distance horse, but I she needs a little more experience,” Vera said.

D.J. Stable's Amendment Nineteen will elevate to stakes company for the first time after sandwiching a victory around runner-up efforts in her first three starts for reigning Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox. The Constitution filly ran second in her debut in April sprinting six furlongs at Aqueduct Racetrack and posted a maiden-breaking two-length score stretched out to a one-turn mile over a sloppy and sealed Belmont track on May 30.

After running second in a seven-furlong allowance sprint on July 24 at Saratoga, Amendment Nineteen will return to the same track, exiting post 5 with Jose Ortiz drawing the assignment.

Tee-N-Jay Farm's Oxana won her last two starts at Parx in dominating fashion and she makes her first stakes start. Trained by Timothy Hills, the Pennsylvania-bred Oxana ran a dull seventh on turf in her debut in June at Monmouth but has thrived since moving to dirt, drawing away for an 18-length score against a seven-horse field of fellow state breds going 6 1/2 furlongs on June 23. Oxana then posted another double-digit length win [10 1/4] competing at six furlongs against older, open company last out on July 20.

The daughter of Uptowncharlybrown will pick up the services of jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. from the inside post.

Joel Politi's Li'l Tootsie made her turf debut last out in the Galway, running ninth on August 15 at Saratoga, but will return to the main track for the Prioress. Trainer Tom Amoss tried the Tapiture filly on the grass for the first time after a ninth-place finish in the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks in July and will see if she can show the form displayed when she started her sophomore campaign 2-for-2 with both wins at Fair Grounds.

Dylan Davis will have the call from post 3.

P.D. Ladner's Cilla enters her first Saratoga appearance off back-to-back stakes wins as she makes her first start for trainer Charlton Baker after previously being trained by Brett Brinkman. Cilla won the Louisiana Legends Mademoiselle in June at Evangeline before capturing the off-the-turf Blue Sparkler on July 10 at Monmouth Park.

Cilla, 4-0-2 in nine career starts, will have Tyler Gaffalione in the irons from post 4.

Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the summer meet on FOX Sports. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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War Like Goddess Riding Three-Race Win Streak Into ‘Win And You’re In’ Flower Bowl

George Krikorian's War Like Goddess brings a three-race win streak into Saturday's Grade 1, $600,000 Flower Bowl, an 11-furlong inner turf test for older fillies and mares, at Saratoga Race Course.

The 44th renewal of the Flower Bowl, which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf in November at Del Mar, is part of a loaded Saturday lineup that features the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup, a 10-furlong test for 3-year-olds that is a “Win and You're In” qualifier to the Breeders' Cup Classic. The 12-race card is bolstered by the Grade 2, $250,000 Prioress, a six-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies and the Grade 3, $200,000 Saranac at 1 1/16-miles on the inner turf for sophomores. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

War Like Goddess has won 5-of-6 starts, utilizing a powerful turn-of-foot to notch graded scores in her last three outings, comprising the 11-furlong Grade 3 Orchid in March at Gulfstream, the 12-furlong Grade 3 Bewitch in April at Keeneland, and the 12-furlong Grade 2 Glens Falls last out on August 7 over the Spa inner turf.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said he is confident War Like Goddess can handle the step up to Grade 1 company.

“It's all a test, right? These are tough horses but the goal is to try and win a Grade 1 with her,” Mott said. “She's done quite well and handled every step so far, so we hope she move another step forward and accomplish this.”

The 4-year-old English Channel bay, bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm, was purchased for $30,000 at the OBS June 2019 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale.

Mott said he is proud of the filly's efforts thus far through six starts, banking $383,684 in purse earnings.

“Her performance is good no matter how much they paid for her,” said Mott, who won the Flower Bowl previously with Gaily Gaily [1988], Dahlia's Dreamer [1994], Northern Emerald [1995] and Dynaforce [2008].

Julien Leparoux retains the mount from post 3.

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown, represented here by My Sister Nat [post 4, Jose Ortiz] and Great Island [post 6, Joel Rosario], has won the Flower Bowl a record six times, comprised of scores with Stacelita [2011], Stephanie's Kitten [2014-15], Lady Eli [2016], Fourstar Crook [2018] and Sistercharlie [2019].

Owner Peter Brant has won the Flower Bowl a record four times, previously scoring with Just a Game [1980], Scoot [1986], River Memories [1989] and Sistercharlie. He will send out a pair of starters here in My Sister Nat for Brown and American Bridge for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget.

A 6-year-old daughter of Acclamation out of the Galileo mare Starlet's Sister, My Sister Nat is a half-sister to Sistercharlie. Last year, the French-bred bay captured the 12-furlong Grade 3 Waya ahead of runner-up efforts to Civil Union in both the Grade 2 Glens Falls at the Spa and the Grade 1 Flower Bowl, which was contested at 10-furlongs at Belmont.

Through three starts this year, My Sister Nat has finished fourth in the 11-furlong Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay in May, third in the 10-furlong Grade 2 New York in June and second last out in the 12-furlong Grade 2 Glens Falls, 3 1/4-lengths back of War Like Goddess.

Brown said he would appreciate an opportunity to win the Flower Bowl with a sibling of Sistercharlie, who he trained for Brant.

“It would be special to win this race again,” Brown said. “She's a real consistent horse, but she'll have her work cut out for her with War Like Goddess in there. We'll try again and hope for a different result.”

Last year, Ortiz provided My Sister Nat a more prominent trip, sitting less than three lengths off the pace, to win the Waya. Brown said he is hopeful the returning rider can utilize similar tactics Saturday after racing from well off the pace in recent efforts.

“That's her, sometimes she falls out of the race a little bit, so hopefully we can get a little better position,” Brown said.

Alpha Delta Stables' Great Island, a 5-year-old Scat Daddy chestnut, has won two of her last three starts, including scores in the off-the-turf Suwannee River in February at Gulfstream and a last-to-first score last out in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Matchmaker on July 17 over firm Monmouth Park turf.

The lightly-raced Great Island is out of the unraced Rahy mare Voyage, who is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1-winners Point of Entry and Pine Island.

Great Island entered the Matchmaker from a two-month respite off a willing third in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Gallorette on May 15 at Pimlico, a key race that winner Mean Mary exited to win the Grade 2 New York at Belmont and runner-up Vigilantes Way used as a springboard to victory in the Grade 3 Eatontown at Monmouth.

Brown said he was pleased with the half-length score last out in the Matchmaker.

“She ran great and showed a nice, closing kick,” Brown said. “We've always wanted to try her around three turns, so this is a chance to do it.”

Brown said he is hopeful both his entrants will find a way not to lose touch with the field.

“Getting position in these races has been key,” said Brown, who leads all trainers with 34 wins at the Spa summer meet heading into Wednesday's card.

The Brant-owned American Bridge will make her North American debut from a score in the 10-furlong Group 3 Premio Del Giubileo on June 27 at the San Siro for Rouget.

By Kodiac and out of the Dutch Art mare More Than Sotka, American Bridge will exit post 2 under Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Madaket Stables, Tim Cambron, Anna Cambron and Bradley Thoroughbreds' graded-stakes winner La Signare will stretch out in distance following a third-place finish last out in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Diana on July 17 at the Spa.

La Signare has earned black type in three consecutive Grade 1 appearances, starting with a third in the Jenny Wiley in April at Keeneland before running second in the Gamely in May at Santa Anita. The 6-year-old French-bred daughter of Siyouni finished 2 1/2-lengths back of Althiqa last out in the Diana.

Conditioned by Brendan Walsh, the talented bay has trained forwardly out of that effort, including a half-mile breeze in 49.71 on August 28 on the Oklahoma dirt training track.

“She looks unreal. Saratoga does very good for them. She's really blossomed between starts,” said Walsh assistant Thomas Molloy. “She galloped out in 1:01 and 1:15 in her last work. The added distance should help her.”

La Signare will emerge from the inside post under Ricardo Santana, Jr.

Belladonna Racing's Coastana enters from a sharp first-level allowance score traveling 11-furlongs on the Spa turf on August 6.

Trained by Cherie DeVaux, the 4-year-old daughter of Kitten's Joy, out of the Pulpit mare Reachfortheheavens, is a full sister to multiple Grade 1-winner Real Solution.

Purchased for $290,000 at the OBS June 2019 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale, Coastana will exit post 7 in her stakes debut under leading rider Luis Saez.

Elizabeth Mateo's Lovely Lucky has won 2-of-3 starts on the Saratoga turf, including an allowance score last summer and an optional-claiming win July 22, both traveling 11-furlongs. The 5-year-old Lookin At Lucky mare ran fourth in last year's Glens Falls ahead of an off-the-board effort in the Flower Bowl at Belmont.

Trained by Tom Albertrani, Lovely Lucky will emerge from post 5 under Hall of Famer John Velazquez.

The Flower Bowl is slated as Race 11 on Saturday's 12-race card. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the summer meet on FOX Sports. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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Happy Saver Will Try To Join Elite Company With Back-To-Back Wins In Jockey Club Gold Cup

Wertheimer and Frere's Happy Saver is out to protect his title and etch his name amongst a quality group of horses to secure multiple triumphs in the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup for 3-year-olds and upward going 1 ¼ miles at Saratoga Race Course, which will host the 103rd edition on Saturday.

The Jockey Club Gold Cup is a “Win And You're In” qualifier for the Grade 1, $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

Since its inception in 1919, the Jockey Club Gold Cup has been one of the most prestigious events on New York's racing calendar, won by Hall of Famers Man o' War [1920], Hill Prince [1950], Sword Dancer [1959], Buckpasser [1966], Damascus [1967], Forego [1974], John Henry [1981], Easy Goer [1989], and Cigar [1995].

The great Kelso won the Jockey Club Gold Cup a record five straight years from 1960-64. Nine Kentucky Derby winners have won the prized event, including Triple Crown winners Gallant Fox [1930], Whirlaway [1942], Citation [1948] and Affirmed [1979]. Contested at Belmont Park from 1975-20, the historic event was moved to Saratoga for the first time this year.

Happy Saver, a son of 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, will attempt to become the 11th horse to win back-to-back runnings of the Jockey Club Gold Cup, joining Hall of Famers Nashua [1955-56], Shuvee [1970-71], Slew o' Gold [1983-84], Skip Away [1996-97] and Curlin [2007-08]. The most recent horse to secure this task was Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist [2014-15].

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Happy Saver was undefeated when taking last year's Jockey Club Gold Cup, engaging in a dramatic stretch duel with Mystic Guide [the subsequent winner of the Group 1 Dubai World Cup] in his first start at graded stakes level. The 4-year-old chestnut colt arose from a seven-month hiatus in style, capturing a one-turn mile allowance optional claiming event on May 28 at Belmont Park in tactical fashion.

Happy Saver finished third last out in the 10-furlong Grade 2 Suburban contested on a sloppy and sealed main track on July 3 at Belmont, finishing 2 3/4-lengths back of returning rival Max Player.

“I don't think he ran that badly on an off track last time,” Pletcher said. “The way the race unfolded going a mile and a quarter at Belmont and drawing the outside is never a good thing. I thought he ran well all things considered. He kept closing and it was his only his second start of the year, so hopefully he moves forward.”

Through a record of 6-5-0-1, Happy Saver has accumulated earnings $374,200. A Kentucky homebred, Happy Saver is out of the stakes-placed Distorted Humor Mare Happy Week. A direct descendant of prolific broodmare Gay Missile, Happy Saver comes from the same extended family as champion and influential stallion A.P. Indy as well as American classic winners Summer Squall and Lemon Drop Kid.

Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., the pilot in all six lifetime starts, retains the mount from post 4.

George E. Hall and Sport BLX Thoroughbreds' Max Player arrives off a victory against Happy Saver in the Grade 2 Suburban, which he won at 11-1 odds for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen. The son of third-crop sire Honor Code battled gamely with Mystic Guide down the Belmont stretch and came out a neck on top while garnering a career-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure.

Off the board in his four efforts prior to the Suburban, Max Player was a distant third to New York-bred hero Tiz the Law in both the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets and Grade 1 Runhappy Travers last year.

“He's coming off a nice win in the Suburban,” said Asmussen assistant Scott Blasi. “It was nice to see him step up again and run to his ability. This is a logical spot to run him back. He's done well up here, so we'll see how it goes.”

Jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr. will retain the mount from post 2.

Don Alberto Stables' Forza Di Oro brings three straight wins to his first Grade 1 engagement, arriving off a sharp three-length victory in his seasonal debut for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

The 4-year-old chestnut son of Speightstown, who sired 2010 winner Haynesfield, earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure when defeating allowance optional claiming company traveling nine furlongs on July 21 over a muddy and sealed Saratoga main track off an eight-month layoff. He recorded the same figure capturing the nine-furlong Grade 3 Discovery on November 28 at Aqueduct in his previous start.

The lightly-raced Forza Di Oro has breezed four times at Saratoga out of his optional-claiming win, including a half-mile breeze in 49.95 seconds on August 29 over the Oklahoma dirt training track.

“I've been pleased with his works, visually,” said Mott, who trained Ron the Greek [2013], Flat Out [2012] and Cigar [1995] to Jockey Club Gold Cup scores. “He's indicating that he needs to be tried in that good company. Knock on wood, we have three days to go so we're hoping to get him over there in good shape.”

Mott is cautiously optimistic about Forza Di Oro's ability to handle the stretch out in distance.

“So far, he hasn't indicated that he can't handle it,” Mott said.

Jockey Junior Alvarado, the rider in all six lifetime starts, will be back aboard from post 1.

Trainer Dallas Stewart will saddle Chess Chief in attempt of his second graded stakes victory this season.

Owned by The Estate of James J. Coleman, Jr., the 5-year-old son of leading sire Into Mischief captured the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic under returning rider Luis Saez on March 20 at Fair Grounds in his most recent victory.

“We feel good about it. He's trained very well up here,” Stewart said. “He's a come-from-behind type of horse so we're just going to let Luis do his thing.”

Saez, the Saratoga meet's leading rider in overall wins and stakes victories, will vie for his third Grade 1 triumph of the meet from post 3.

After capturing the Grade 1 Whitney and Grade 1 Runhappy Travers this meet, Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox will look to end Saratoga on a high note when sending out Night Ops for his Grade 1 debut.

Owned by Steve Landers, the 5-year-old bay son of Warrior's Reward has finished in the money in 11 of his last dozen starts, dating back to a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claiming triumph in November 2019 at Churchill Downs, besting subsequent graded stakes winner Pirate's Punch.

A winner of the Essex at Oaklawn Park and the Grade 3 Cornhusker at Prairie Meadows in 2020, Night Ops is still in search of his first victory this year but has garnered stakes black type in all six 2021 starts. He commenced his season when third to eventual Grade 1-winner Silver State in stakes company at Oaklawn ahead of four runner-up efforts, most recently in the Alydar on August 6 at the Spa finishing 1 ½ lengths behind Art Collector, who exited that effort to win the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic.

Night Ops boasts the highest bankroll in the field with earnings of $823,656 and a consistent record of 24-6-7-4.

Jockey Manny Franco seeks his second Jockey Club Gold Cup win from post 5.

Completing the field is owner-trainer Uriah St. Lewis' Forewarned, who enters off a close second against fellow Ohio-breds in the Best of Ohio Governor's Buckeye Cup on August 14 at Thistledown.

The eight-time winner and earner of over a half-million dollars will attempt to give St. Lewis a second victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup after scoring a 45-1 upset in the 2018 running with Discreet Lover. Forewarned will also look to give his dual Jockey Club Gold Cup-winning sire Flat Out his first offspring to win the race. The last Jockey Club Gold Cup winner to sire a winner of the race was Nashua, the father of prominent distaffer and fellow Hall of Famer Shuvee.

Jockey Sonny Leon ships in to ride from post 6.

The Jockey Club Gold Cup is slated as the closing race on Saturday's 12-race program, which also features the Grade 1, $600,000 Flower Bowl Invitational, a “Win And You're In” qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. The stakes-laden card is bolstered by the Grade 2, $250,000 Prioress for sophomore fillies going six furlongs, and the Grade 3, $200,000 Saranac for 3-year-olds colts at 1 1/16 miles over the inner turf. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

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