King Cugat to miss BC Turf; Riskaverse in Frizette

ELMONT, N.Y. - King Cugat, who finished second as the odds-on favorite in Saturday's Grade 1 Turf Classic Invitational, came out of the race with strained ligaments in his left foreleg and will be forced to miss the Breeders' Cup Turf, trainer Bill Mott said Monday.

Mott believed the injury was to the distal sesamoidean ligaments located at the base of the sesamoid where it attaches to the pastern bone. On Monday, Mott was waiting for the results of an ultrasound, "which could display something more definitive."

Mott said that the ligament "has been a chronic problem with him. It's not the first time it's been an issue. It is the first time that it's put him on whoa."

Mott did not believe the injury was career-ending and would not require surgery. Mott hoped that several months off would heal the injury and allow King Cugat to return to the races next year.

King Cugat has had a distinguished career, winning 7 of 16 starts including six stakes. A son of Kingmambo, King Cugat has earned $1,293,782. His only shortcoming is that he is 0 for 6 in Grade 1 races with five second-place finishes.

With Fantastic Light headed to the Breeders' Cup Classic and with Bienamado sidelined, King Cugat was viewed as North America's leading candidate for the Breeders' Cup Turf.

Riskaverse to go in Frizette

Riskaverse, a winner of an off-the-turf, one mile allowance race in her last start, will take on graded winners You and Cashier's Dream in Saturday's $500,000, Grade 1 Frizette Stakes, trainer Pat Kelly said Monday.

Although Kelly believes Riskaverse has a future on the turf, she ran well enough last time out to earn a shot at a Grade 1. Also, the Frizette, run at 1 1/16 miles, is coming up light in numbers with only four horses confirmed.

"I think she's going to be a really nice turf filly, but I was pleasantly surprised when she ran so well the other day," said Kelly, who noted Riskaverse's final time of 1:36.29 for the mile over a good track. "I like having such a nice race over the track."

Cherokee Girl, an eight-length winner of an entry-level allowance race on Sept. 19, is the other confirmed starter for the Frizette. On Sunday, she worked five furlongs in 1:00.72 over a fast track.

On Monday, Cashier's Dream, the Spinaway winner, breezed four furlongs in 50 seconds over a good Belmont main track.

Jockey Club Gold Cup hopefuls work

Despite some concerns with a harrowed, wet racetrack, trainer Nick Zito sent out his pair of Jockey Club Gold Cup starters for strong five-furlong workouts Monday morning.

Working individually, Albert the Great and A P Valentine both went five furlongs in 59 seconds over a main track labeled good. Zito said he was pleased with both moves. Albert the Great won last year's Gold Cup while A P Valentine won the Champagne on the same day's card.

Also working toward the Gold Cup on Monday was longshot Country Be Gold, who covered five furlongs in 59.40 seconds over a muddy training track.

City Zip fires bullet on grass

City Zip worked on the turf Sunday at Belmont Park and could be headed to Saturday's $250,000 Kelso Handicap, where, if he started, he would be making his grass debut.

City Zip worked seven furlongs in 1:25.05, breezing, over the inner turf, which was labeled good. The bullet work was the fastest by more than four seconds of the four breezes at the distance.

On Monday, trainer Linda Rice said a final decision on City Zip's next start would be made in a few days. If Rice's 3-year-old colt ran in the Kelso, the race more than likely would serve as a prep for the Breeders' Cup Mile.

City Zip is also nominated to Sunday's $250,000 Forest Hills Handicap. Should he start in the Forest Hills, a six-furlong dirt race, City Zip likely would run in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Gourmet Girl '50-50' for Beldame

Trainer Pico Perdomo said California-based Grade 1 winner Gourmet Girl is "50-50" for Saturday's $750,000 Beldame because of an aggravated splint bone.

Perdomo said Gourmet Girl, who has not raced since finishing second in the Clement Hirsch at Del Mar in August, missed some training, but is now back on the track.

"She's been galloping and improving - so far so good," Perdomo said.

If Perdomo decides to bring Gourmet Girl to New York for the Grade 1 Beldame, she is booked on a flight out of California on Wednesday.

Flute, the leading 3-year-old filly in the country, is the likely Beldame favorite. Flute will carry 120 pounds in the weight-for-age race and receives three pounds from her elders in the 1 1/8-mile Beldame.

Those expected to face Flute are Beautiful Pleasure, Critical Eye, Irving's Baby, Serra Lake, and Spain. Exogenous and Pentatonic are possible to start.

No more coolers allowed

In an effort to beef up security in the wake of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center last month, the New York Racing Association will no longer allow coolers to be brought into Belmont Park, effective Wednesday. Additionally, all bags and purses brought into the track will be searched.

"We want to do what is in the best interest of all of our fans, employees, and horsemen," said John Tierney, NYRA's director of security, "and safety is the number one issue."

- additional reporting by Karen M. Johnson

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