Innovation Economy takes Belmont Gold Cup

Trainer Chad Brown was hoping for rain in the $250,000 Gold Cup, the nightcap on Friday at Belmont. He didn’t get it, but Innovation Economy made it rain anyway.

Making his first stakes start and stretching out to the rarely run distance of two miles, Innovation Economy moved steadily up from the back of the Gold Cup pack and outkicked Unitarian to win by a half-length.

The top two were clearly best, with Dynamic Sky 1 1/2 lengths farther back in third, a nose in front of Reflecting. Innovation Economy, the 5-2 second choice, paid $7 to win and was timed in 3:22.17 – whatever that means – over firm going.

Brown had hoped early-week rain would be followed by further showers today, but there was no more than a brief, light drizzle this morning, and the grass course, called “good” on Thursday, was upgraded to firm Friday. Innovation Economy won his maiden over a firm course, but his two big allowance-race scores going 11 and 12 furlongs had come on courses rated good and yielding, leading Brown to speculate that his still-blossoming 4-year-old might be far better on ground with give.

That may be true, but there was just enough give Friday, and Innovation Economy appears to have enough quality that it didn’t matter. Away a bit awkwardly and settled in ninth around the first and second of three turns, Innovation Economy and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. began moving up with about a mile left to race.

Ortiz latched onto 2-1 favorite Unitarian and hooked to his tail as Unitarian, moving up steadily, hooked wide into the bend and homestretch. Javier Castellano, race-riding, pushed Unitarian out slightly into Ortiz’s path, but Innovation Economy was too good, surging forward to victory.

Brown heaped praise on Ortiz’s work in the Gold Cup.

“My only instructions were to show them you’re the best turf rider in the game, and he did, and he is,” Brown said. “He missed the break a little bit. He didn’t panic. He saves ground. He identifies the horses to follow. Halfway through the race, he found Unitarian and said, ‘That’s the horse I’m gonna follow,’ and he measured him perfectly.”

Innovation Economy, by Dynaformer and the mare Somerset West, bred by John Chandler and owned by Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence, won for the fourth time in six starts. He’s won three races in a row, would appear to be a horse on the rise, and Brown doesn’t believe the niche marathon trip Friday was what produced Innovation Economy’s performance.

“This horse has been so consistent, shown a tremendous amount of stamina for a horse that hasn’t run much, and I’m just so proud of him,” Brown said. “With enough pace, I think he can get back to 1 1/2 miles, no problem.”

Brown mentioned the $1 million Sword Dancer as a possible major goal later this summer.