Gronkowski has final prep for Jockey Club Gold Cup

ELMONT, N.Y. - Gronkowski, the Belmont Stakes runner-up, completed preparations for a start in next Saturday’s Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup by working five furlongs in 1:00.87 Saturday morning over the Belmont main track.

Gronkowski worked in company with the Chilean-bred mare Wow Cat - who is pointing to the Grade 1 Beldame on Oct. 6 - with the two getting their final quarter in 24.21 seconds. They galloped-out six furlongs in 1:13.70.

“I think the horse is fit and strong,” trainer Chad Brown said. “He went perfect for me.”

Gronkowski will try to rebound from an eighth-place finish in the Travers Stakes.

“He’s bounced out of it great,” Brown said. “He was doing great before and after the Travers. The only day he didn’t do well was in the Travers. The track just had to get him that day.”

Brown was referring to the speed-favoring nature of the Saratoga main track.

Also working Saturday for the Gold Cup was Carlino, a recent second-level allowance winner at Saratoga. He breezed a half-mile in 48.60 seconds over Belmont’s main track for trainer Mark Hennig.

A field of eight is expected for the Gold Cup when entries close and post positions are drawn Wednesday. The field, with expected jockey assignments, is: Carlino (Jose Lezcano), Discreet Lover (Manny Franco), Diversify (Irad Ortiz Jr.), Gronkowski (Jose Ortiz), Mendelssohn (Ryan Moore), Patch (Luis Saez), Thunder Snow (Christophe Soumillon), and Uno Mas Modelo (TBD). Sightforsoreeyes is possible.