Gold Cup winners clash in Suburban

ELMONT, N.Y. – Hoppertunity, winner of the 2016 Jockey Club Gold Cup, and Diversify, winner of the 2017 Jockey Club Gold Cup, head a field of 11 entered Wednesday for Saturday’s Grade 2, $750,000 Suburban.

Hoppertunity, trained by Bob Baffert, is 2 for 2 at Belmont Park, having also won the Grade 2 Brooklyn last month. He has won 9 of 32 starts and earned $4.6 million. He will break from post 8 under Flavien Prat.

Diversify, from Rick Violette’s barn, is jumping back into open company after winning the Commentator Stakes for New York-breds last out. In that race, he showed the ability to be successful from just off the pace. He will break from post 10 under Irad Ortiz Jr.

Also entered in the Suburban, at 1 1/4 miles, were Name Changer, War Story, Zanotti, Tapwrit, Dr. Dorr, Discreet Lover, Take Your Guns, Sorry Erik, and The Lieutenant.

In other stakes:

◗ Limousine Liberal looks like the horse to beat in a field of six entered in the Grade 2, $350,000 Belmont Sprint Championship at seven furlongs.

Limousine Liberal is a four-time winner at the distance and cutting back off a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at a mile. He breaks from the rail under Jose Ortiz. Outside of him, in order, are Whitmore, Eye Luv Lulu, Shaft of Light, Lewisfield, and Favorable Outcome.

◗ Mendelssohn drew post 6 of 7 in the Grade 3, $300,000 Dwyer Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile.

Mendelssohn won the UAE Derby by 18 1/2 lengths and then finished last of 20 in the Kentucky Derby. His connections are targeting the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November and hope this is a first step to get there.

Mendelssohn is trained by Aidan O’Brien, as is Dwyer entrant Seahenge, who finished seventh of 14 in the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile.

Seahenge drew the rail and is followed, in post order, by Seven Trumpets, Rugbyman, Noble Indy, Fixedincome Larry, Mendelssohn, and Firenze Fire.