JC Gold Cup Day Grade I Nominations Released

(from Belmont Park notes)
Nominations have been released for the Oct. 7 program at Belmont Park, the biggest day of the Belmont Fall Championship Meet with five grade I races. The card is highlighted by the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup.

The Gold Cup features the expected clash of Preakness/Travers winner Bernardini, Suburban/Whitney winner Invasor and Irish Derby/Irish Champion Stakes winner Dylan Thomas. The race is certain to impact the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. on Nov. 4.

Here are the nominations.

The 88th running of the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup, 3 & up, 1 1/4 miles: A.P. Arrow, Andromeda's Hero, Awesome Twist, Bernardini, Commentator, Dylan Thomas (IRE), Invasor (ARG), Master Command, Premium Tap, Second of June, Spanish Chestnut, Sun King, Wanderin Boy and West Virginia. Dylan Thomas is nominated to Sunday's Arc de'Triomphe (Fr-I), but trainer Aidan O'Brien has made plans for him to arrive here on Tuesday and go into quarantine at Aqueduct for the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

The 30th running of the $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational, 3 & up, 1 1/2 miles, Widener Turf Course: Better Talk Now, Cacique (IRE), English Channel, Freedonia (GB), Frost Giant, Go Deputy, Grand Couturier (GB), Icy Atlantic, Relaxed Gesture (IRE), Revved Up, Royal Highness (GER), Showing Up, Silver Whistle and T.H. Approval. Freedonia is expected to arrive on Friday; Frost Giant is expected to arrive on Tuesday.

The 29th running of the $600,000 Flower Bowl Invitational, fillies and mares, 3 and up, 1 1/4 miles, inner turf course: Angara (GB), Argentina (IRE), Dancing Edie, Film Maker, Freedonia (GB), Gorella (FR), Honey Ryder, Intrigued (GB), Lahudood (GB), Latice (IRE), Live Life (FR), Naissance Royale (IRE), Noble Stella (GER) and Time On (GB).

The 68th running of the $600,000 Beldame, fillies and mares, 3 and up, nine furlongs: Balletto (UAE), Fleet Indian, Friel's for Real, Happy Ticket, Miss Shop, Pool Land, Round Pond, Spun Sugar, Sweet Symphony, Take D'Tour and Teammate.

The 67th running of the $400,000 Vosburgh, 3 and up, six furlongs: Afrashad, Attila's Sword, Commentator, Friendly Island, Henny Hughes, Silver Train, Silver Wagon, Sun King, War Front and Who's the Cowboy.