Blame delays final work for Jockey Club Gold Cup

Blame, the leading candidate for the Jockey Club Gold Cup, is likely to have his final pre-race blowout at Keeneland on Monday instead of Sunday, trainer Al Stall Jr. said.

“He’s had two very strong works the last two Sundays, and I’m wanting to give him just a little more time before he goes an easy half-mile,” Stall said. “It’ll be just a little tightener, no big deal. We’re pretty much set anyway.”

The Grade 1, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup, to be run next Saturday, Oct. 2, at Belmont Park, will be the final race for Blame before the Nov. 6 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs. Bred and owned by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, the 4-year-old colt brings a five-race win streak into the 1 1/4-mile Gold Cup and will be a solid favorite under Garrett Gomez.

Blame has had five workouts since he defeated Quality Road in the Aug. 7 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga, ending with swift six-furlong drills on back-to-back Sundays over the Polytrack surface at Keeneland. Stall initially planned on the colt working again Sunday.

Stall said Blame will be flown to New York on Thursday and take up residence in the John Terranova stable at Belmont.

The task for Blame got a little easier when it was announced this week that Travers Stakes winner Afleet Express, trained by Jimmy Jerkens, had defected from the Gold Cup with a slight tear in a suspensory ligament.

“I felt bad for Jimmy, but it happens to all of us,” Stall said. “But they caught it fresh, and it looks like their horse will be okay for next year, so that’s good.”

◗ Turfway Park in Florence, Ky., will close out its fall meet next Saturday, Oct. 2, with Fan Appreciation Day. Hall of Fame jockey Steve Cauthen will be available for autographs, and $2 million earner Brass Hat will be paraded before the crowd. Dollar beer and other price-cut concessions also will be featured, along with a variety of giveaways and activities.

The 16-day fall meet ends next Sunday, Oct. 3, with Keeneland starting its 17-day fall meet Oct. 8.

◗ Churchill has announced a “Mad About Plaid” theme for the only evening racing card at its upcoming fall meet, which runs Oct. 31 to Nov. 27. First post for evening racing on the Nov. 19 card will be 4:30 p.m. Eastern. All four “Downs After Dark” cards at the spring meet also were themed and drew large ontrack crowds.

Churchill originally intended for opening day to carry an evening start, but logistics involved with hosting the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 5-6 led the track to scrap those plans.

◗ The Kentucky Derby Museum is currently displaying an exhibit from the making of the new Disney movie, “Secretariat,” which premieres Thursday in Hollywood, Calif. The exhibit showcases behind-the-scenes interviews and footage from the making of the film. “Secretariat” hits theatres nationwide Oct. 8.