Strong work puts Highland Sky in Jockey Club Gold Cup

ELMONT, N.Y. – Highland Sky convinced his connections to take a shot in Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup with a solid five-furlong workout in 1:01.16 on Sunday over Belmont Park’s main track.

The Gold Cup will represent the first start on dirt for Highland Sky, a 4-year-old son of Sky Mesa who has made the first 12 starts of his career on dirt.

In Sunday’s work, Highland Sky sat right behind stablemates Tale of S’avall and Tale of Silence, taking dirt for the first three furlongs before being tipped into the clear by Rajiv Maragh straightening away down the lane. Highland Sky gradually got to Tale of ‘Savall, who had edged clear of Tale of Silence, finishing the work a head or so in front. Highland Sky got his final quarter in 23.85 seconds.

“Rajiv was very pleased,” said Robin Smullen, assistant to trainer Barclay Tagg. “He said he’s so much handier on the dirt than the turf. He said on the dirt, he jumps right into the bridle and can be anywhere you want to be.”

Smullen said making one’s dirt debut in the Jockey Club Gold Cup is not ideal, but after several disappointing efforts on turf, she and Tagg feel it’s time to shake things up.

“We feel he’s a better horse than what he’s showing,” Smullen said. “We’ve tried everything we can try except dirt. We’ve been stuck in neutral, and we need to be going forward.”

Meanwhile, Pavel, the Smarty Jones Stakes winner, worked a half-mile in 48.77 seconds Sunday under exercise rider Gabriel Planchard to complete his serious preparations for the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

“He worked great this morning,” said Jack Sisterson, an assistant to trainer Doug O’Neill. “Doug was just looking for a maintenance half in 49, and we got him in 48 and 3. Gabriel said he felt great, switched leads on cue, and got over the surface well.”

Pavel, a 3-year-old son of Creative Cause, will be making his fourth start at his fourth different track in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. He won his debut sprinting at Santa Anita, finished fourth in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga, and then rolled to a six-length victory in the Grade 3 Smarty Jones at Parx.

A field of seven is expected for the Jockey Club Gold Cup, including Keen Ice, Destin, Rally Cry – all from the barn of Todd Pletcher – Diversify, and Good Samaritan.