Former claimer Motown Men likely for Gold Cup

ARCADIA, Calif. – The improving California-bred stakes winner Motown Men has joined the small field expected for the 1 1/4-mile, Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita on June 27.

“That’s where we’re pointing if all goes well,” trainer Ted H. West said.

Motown Men, claimed four starts back for $40,000 and a stakes winner last out, worked six furlongs Sunday in 1:11.40 and finished with a rush, the final eighth in 11.40 seconds on West’s watch.

The four principals for the $500,000 Gold Cup are Catch a Flight, Moreno, Hard Aces, and Motown Men. The status of front-runner Moreno will depend on the pace scenario, trainer Eric Guillot said.

Trainer Peter Miller has four Gold Cup candidates – Big Cazanova, Lideris, Poshsky, and Finnegans Wake. Their status will be determined later this week.

Motown Men won the $151,000 Tiznow Stakes for California-breds and has earned $148,800 since he was claimed four starts back by West and owner Phil Bongiovanni, whose stable name is Gulliver Racing. The gelding overcame a wide trip last out to win the Tiznow.

Hard Aces worked five furlongs Monday in 1:00.40. He will try to improve on his third-place finish behind Catch a Flight and Moreno in the Californian. John Sadler trains Hard Aces, sixth in the Oaklawn Handicap prior to an improved effort in the Californian.

“It was what we like to see, a jump forward,” Sadler’s assistant Larry Benavidez said. “It wasn’t a win, but he improved.”

Hard Aces is owned by Kosta and Pete Hronis, who scored a Shoemaker Mile upset last Saturday with the Sadler-trained Talco.

Nominations for the Gold Cup, a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race, close Thursday.