There is an additional bonus for Gray Witch winning the Belmont Gold Cup Stakes (G2T) June 6 at Saratoga Race Course that may or may not be collected.
Besides bagging the lion’s share of the $250,000 purse, the lucky connections also received a guaranteed spot in the famous Melbourne Cup (G1) in Australia.
“I like the idea,” winning trainer Graham Motion said with a laugh. “But ask me in October or November about it. I love international racing and I love the idea, but it’s a huge undertaking. It’s exciting to think about.”
The end of the Belmont Gold Cup also felt great for Motion and the ownership group Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and The Estate of Albert Frassetto as The Gray Wizard needed every step of the two miles to come home from 10th place back. Go and dominate by a head in blanket, three horses finish.
“It was a thrill,” Motion said. It couldn’t be more exciting than that.” “I wasn’t sure if we were going to win, but I’ve never been more confident.”
Aron Wellman, president and founder of Eclipse, said the idea of competing in the Melbourne Cup was a good idea, but “it’s a little early to get ahead of us. But it’s a great thing to dream about.” That’s one of the good things.” the most coveted races on the planet and knowing those involved with the Melbourne Cup value this race so much that they will award the winner an automatic berth is very exciting.”
Gray Witch, 5 years old Caravaggio gelding, finished second in last year’s Gold Cup ahead of the European shipper Siskany . But Thursday’s rematch at Saratoga was a major upset as Godolphin’s Siskany was third in the stretch and then faded down the stretch to finish seventh.
RT Racing Stables Juan champagne led by one and a half lengths in eighth of the Gold Cup as Stuart Janney III Limited close, but The Gray Wizard, as was his wont, quickly closed on the outside of them and prevailed in the final jump.
Ridden by John Velazquez, the Longfield Stud-bred gelding from the Galileo Fancy mare ran two miles in 3:18.35 on the hard turf. He paid $14.40 for the 6-1 third selection in the betting and has won four of 15 starts for earnings of $573,531.
“We were second in this race last year and we are really pleased to see him go better this time,” Wellman said. “He’s not a lazy horse, but he’s a relaxed horse and takes a lot of time to get moving. Johnny knows him best and has beaten him before, and I don’t know if there is a stronger left hand in the group.” more business than Johnny’s. From the three-sixteenths pole to the rope, John dictated The Gray Wizard’s concept for him and that made the difference.”
The ending was extremely emotional when Frassetto passed away on May 20 at the age of 87.
“We recently lost Al Frassetto, so I think today there was a little angel on Johnny’s shoulder guiding him,” Wellman said. “It’s a huge loss to the industry to lose an owner like Al, who invested in every part of the game. It was so special for me to see his sons bring The Gray Wizard into winner’s circle.”
Champagne Juan, trained by Christophe Clement, headed ahead of Limited Liability Company, one Kitten joy The gelding is trained by Shug McGaughey.
After the race, Champagne Juan was pulled out at a gallop and launched. According to X account of an employee of the New York Racing Association press office, according to the director of NYRA’s veterinary department, son of justification has a sling injury to his right front leg and is resting comfortably in his cage.
The Gray Wizard’s winning connections celebrate after the Belmont Gold Cup at Saratoga Race Course
Thursday’s card opened the much-anticipated first Belmont Stakes at Spa and attracted 22,072 spectators. On a similar Thursday in 2022, attendance Belmont Park is 2,822. A year ago, there were no races on the Thursday of Belmont Week due to smoke from Canadian wildfires.
Betting from all sources was $18,168,565, breaking the previous $10.3 million mark from Thursday’s 2017 card.
Videotapes: Belmont S. Gold Cup (G2T)
