Moreno 'ready to go' for Jockey Club Gold Cup
ELMONT, N.Y. – Despite having had hard races in the Whitney and Woodward at Saratoga, Moreno remains revved up and raring to go for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup, trainer Eric Guillot said Friday.
“My horse is good, I expect him to run big,” Guillot said from Saratoga, where Moreno has been training all summer. “He’s dappled out from head to toe. He’s ready to go.”
Guillot planned to have jockey Junior Alvarado work Moreno on Saturday at Saratoga. The horse would then ship to Belmont by Wednesday, the deadline imposed by the New York State Gaming Commission for Gold Cup runners to be at Belmont Park. Horses running in the Jockey Club Gold Cup will be placed under 24-hour surveillance beginning Wednesday.
The last time Moreno raced at Belmont, he set strong early fractions only to be run down late by Zivo and finish second in the Grade 2 Suburban.
“I think the Suburban is still his best race,” Guillot said.
Moreno came back to win the Grade 1, $1.5 million Whitney Stakes on Aug. 2 and then was second to Itsmyluckyday in the Grade 1 Woodward on Aug. 30.
Guillot said those races haven’t taken a toll on Moreno.
“I always put back whatever they take out of him,” Guillot said.
The Gold Cup is expected to also attract Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist and Travers one-two finishers V. E. Day and Wicked Strong, as well as Will Take Charge, Zivo, Prayer for Relief, and Stephanoatsee.