Tonalist wins Jockey Club Gold Cup for second straight year

ELMONT, N.Y. – Going into all of Tonalist’s races this year, trainer Christophe Clement said he wouldn’t have traded places with any of his rivals. On Saturday, for the first time in five months, Clement could say the same thing – and mean it – after the race.

Tonalist, a beaten favorite in three consecutive graded stakes, splashed his way home to a decisive 4 3/4-length victory Saturday in the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup in the slop at Belmont Park, earning a fees-paid berth to the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

Wicked Strong, who showed surprising speed in the race, finished second, 6 3/4 lengths ahead of stablemate Effinex. Coach Inge, Looks to Spare, and Constitution completed the order of finish.

This is the second consecutive year Tonalist has won the Jockey Club Gold Cup, becoming the 11th horse to do so. He joins a list that includes Kelso – a five-time winner – Nashua, Curlin, and Skip Away. Tonalist, who also won the 2014 Belmont Stakes, now has won six races from 14 starts, and the $600,000 first-place prize Saturday pushed his earnings beyond the $3 million mark.

Tonalist began the year with a victory in the Grade 3 Westchester, but he finished second in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Mile and Grade 2 Suburban and third in the Grade 1 Whitney.

“I thought even when he got beat this year, he never ran a bad race,” said Clement, who trains Tonalist for owner Robert S. Evans. “He’s a top-class horse. We’re back on top. I’m delighted for Mr. Evans. He believed in us all year long. Mostly, I’m delighted for the horse because I never lost my faith in the horse. I never thought he was disappointing. I thought he was unlucky through the year, but the way he won today was very impressive. I’m delighted.”

Wicked Strong was sent away from the gate by Joel Rosario, but Constitution overtook him for a half-length lead after a quarter mile in 24.35 seconds. John Velazquez had Tonalist in fifth position early but let him advance into contention along the inside down the backside as Constitution ran a half-mile in 48.17 seconds and six furlongs in 1:12.48 with Constitution pressing him.

As Constitution gave way, Wicked Strong had the lead turning for home, but Tonalist easily went past him in upper stretch and drew clear for the victory. Tonalist, a son of Tapit, ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:02.16 and returned $4 as the even-money favorite.

“I was very happy with the way Tonalist was traveling,” Clement said. “He always looked very comfortable. I thought at any stage of the race he could have taken them on. We’re back to what I always believed. He’s a top class horse. I’m just sorry that he did not win more this year.”

For the second year in a row, Tonalist will have a chance to win North America’s richest race – the $5 million BC Classic. Tonalist, who finished fifth in last year’s BC Classic, will take on a star-studded field expected to include Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, the world-class mare Beholder, Honor Code, who beat Tonalist in the Met Mile and Whitney, and perhaps the Woodward winner Liam’s Map.

“I think we belong in that group,” Clement said. “We will be there.”

Wicked Strong likely won’t be there. Don Little Jr., head of the Centennial Farms syndicate that owns the 4-year-old, indicated Wicked Strong could be pointed to the BC Dirt Mile on Oct. 30.