Forewarned scores upset in Cleveland Gold Cup

Forewarned, making his second start off a long layoff, stretched out and prevailed in a long drive to upset the $75,000 Daniel Stearns Cleveland Gold Cup for Ohio-bred 3-year-olds on Saturday at Thistledown.

Forewarned ($35.60), a Preston Stables homebred trained by Pavel Matejka, won once from four starts last year as a juvenile and capped that campaign by finishing ninth in the Juvenile Stakes on the Best of Ohio showcase card Oct. 7 at Belterra Park. The Flat Out colt was off for more than seven months and returned May 27 to finish a rallying second in the Green Carpet Stakes on the Belterra turf, beaten just a half-length by the multiple stakes-winning filly Missap, who was sent away favored in the Cleveland Gold Cup.

Forewarned, with Megan Fadlovich in the irons, broke from the outside in the field of eight starters after scratches, all going 1 1/8 miles for the first time. He assumed a solid stalking position, racing in second and two lengths behind Fusaichi’s Wind as the early leader posted an honest half-mile in 47.06 seconds and six furlongs in 1:12.48.

Forewarned began to make up ground exiting the far turn, raced in the 2 path to rally alongside the game leader’s flank in midstretch, and engaged in a long drive to prevail by a head as the second-longest shot on the board. He finished in 1:53.08.

Fusaichi's Wind drifted in during the drive for home, cutting off Over Icce, who crossed the wire 1 1/2 lengths behind the top pair. After a review, the stewards disqualified Fusaichi’s Wind to third for interference, elevating Over Icce to second.

Five lengths behind the top three came Missap, who never seriously threatened while passing tiring foes.