American contingent looks strong in Belmont Gold Cup

ELMONT, N.Y. – Europeans swept the top four places in the 2017 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational, but an American-based horse won the race’s first three editions and the balance of power this year might have shifted back to this side of the Atlantic.

The 10-horse field for the Grade 2, $400,000 Gold Cup, a rare two-mile race in North America, includes seven American-based runners and three overseas shippers, none of whom look as strong as last year’s winner, Red Cardinal.

Prince of Arran has more two-mile experience than any other Gold Cup starter but appears to be the least qualified Euro. The French 5-year-old Funny Kid rates a better chance but is slightly light on form. Funny Kid stays two miles and comes off a win in the Prix de Barberville at Longchamp. That race’s third-place finisher, Ice Breeze, has high-level staying form. Funny Kid gets regular rider Maxime Guyon on Friday, and under the race’s allowance conditions carries 121 pounds.

That’s six more pounds than England-based Call To Mind, who probably is a better horse than Funny Kid. Bred and owned by Queen Elizabeth II, Call To Mind is trained by William Haggas, who has yet to win a North American race but has a second and two thirds from his three starters.

Call To Mind, a 4-year-old, was beaten a neck by Ice Breeze last fall at Chantilly going 1 7/8 miles. His first start this year came at 1 1/2 miles, and most recently he was third behind the promising Stradivarius going 1 3/4 miles May 18 in the Yorkshire Cup at York. Javier Castellano has been named to ride.

“Two miles on fast ground is exactly what this horse wants,” Haggas said. “He’s an uncomplicated horse, easy to ride with a very good mind.”

Five Americans look good enough to win. Run Time captured the two-mile Allen Jerkens Stakes in Florida before flopping in the Dubai Gold Cup last out, while Allen Jerkens’s son Jimmy sends out the capable Rocketry. Rocketry showed talent last year at 3, impressively won a second-level allowance race here last out, and could relish this extended trip.

“You never know with two miles, but he acts like he’ll like it,” Jerkens said. “He rates on his own and he has a good, long run.”

French import Canessar won the Laurel Turf Cup in his U.S. debut last fall and was a better-than-it-looks sixth April 28 in the Elkhorn at Keeneland, finishing fast into a slow pace. He won over 1 3/4 miles and 1 7/8 miles last season and has been aimed at this spot all year.

“It’s tough to know how the race is going to shape up, but I think the distance will be fine,” trainer Arnaud Delacour said.

Postulation, who won the American St. Leger last summer at Arlington over 1 11/16 miles, also has been pointed to the Gold Cup, and his steady sixth-place finish in the Grade 1 Man o’ War here May 12 was a prep for Friday’s start.

“We just wanted two races before the Gold Cup,” trainer Eddie Graham said. “He’s doing well; he’s happy. I just want him to get into a good rhythm. If there’s no pace and he’s in front, that’s fine.”

Nessy beat a lesser group going 1 3/4 miles last out in the San Juan Capistrano and was third two starts back behind Sadler’s Joy and One Go All Go in the Mac Diarmida at Gulfstream. He can’t be ruled out, either, in a race that appears to be as competitive as it is long.