Wicked Strong may take rest of year off

Wicked Strong, who clipped heels with Moreno and unseated jockey Rajiv Maragh during the running of Saturday’s $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park, came out of the race in good order, but may not run again this year, according to trainer Jimmy Jerkens.

"There's a chance we might give Wicked the rest of the year off,” Jerkens told the New York Racing Association publicity department. “He's okay and everything, but he's grinded it out pretty good and we hope to have a nice handicap horse next year."

Wicked Strong, owned by Centennial Farms, won the Grade 1 Wood Memorial in April. He finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby and dead-heated for fourth in the Belmont Stakes with Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome.

Wicked Strong won the Grade 2 Jim Dandy and then was beaten a nose by stablemate V.E. Day in the Travers before the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Meanwhile, Jerkens told NYRA that V.E. Day, who finished sixth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, is likely to skip the Breeders’ Cup as well. He could run in either the Discovery at 1 1/8 miles on dirt at Aqueduct on Nov. 1 or the Grade 3, $250,000 Red Smith at 1 3/8 miles on turf, at Aqueduct on Nov. 15.