Belmont Notes: Lido Palace Works for Gold Cup; Banks Hill's Return in Flower Bowl; Turf Classic Nears for With Anticipation

John W. Amerman's Lido Palace, prepping for next Saturday's 84th running of the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I), worked a half-mile in :49 2/5, breezing on Belmont Park's fast main track Thursday morning.

The 5-year-old Chilean-bred son of Rich Man's Gold became the sixth horse to win consecutive runnings of the Woodward (gr. I), when he won the 1 1/8-mile event at Belmont on Sept. 7. He joined Sword Dancer (1959-'60); Kelso (1961-'63), Forego (1974-'77); Slew o'Gold (1983-'84) and Cigar (1995-'96) in accomplishing that feat.

In addition to Lido Palace, Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel is expected to run Stronach Stable's Milwaukee Brew in the 1 ¼-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Also expected for the Jockey Club Gold Cup are Mrs. Joseph M. Grant's Evening Attire, winner of the Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II), and Select Stable's Repent, who returned from a four-month layoff to run second by a half-length to the Frankel-trained Medaglia d'Oro in Saratoga's Travers (gr. I).

Starlight Stable's Harlan's Holiday is listed as questionable for the Jockey Club Gold Cup, which is a weight-for-age race.

Banks Hill Strong Possibility for Flower Bowl

Also on the Jockey Club Gold Cup card is the $750,000 Flower Bowl Invitational Handicap (gr. IT) for fillies and mares at a 1 1/4 mile on the turf.

A strong possibility to start there is Juddmonte Farms Banks Hill, who won the 2001 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) at Belmont Park last October.

Trained by Andre Fabre, Banks Hill has had only one win in four starts this year, but that came in the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois last month in France.

Edouard de Rothschild's England's Legend and Bobby Frankel's Starine are probable starters, with Kazzia, Tarfshi and Turtle Bow questionable.

With Anticipation Chases Fall Sweep in Turf Classic

The final Grade I of the weekend will be run next Sunday, Sept. 29, the $750,000 Turf Classic Invitational (gr. I). Augustin Stable's With
Anticipation could join Yankee Affair (1989) and Val's Prince (1999) as the only 7-year-olds to win the Turf Classic. The oldest horses to win this race, however, were John Henry (1984) and John's Call (2000), both of whom were 9 years old.

With Anticipation, trained by Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard, could become the eighth horse to sweep Belmont Park's major turf races of the fall, the Man o'War (gr. IT) and Turf Classic.

The others are Waya (1978), Bowl Game (1979), Theatrical (1987), Sunshine Forever (1988), Solar Splendor (1991), Diplomatic Jet (1996) and Val's Prince (1999).

With his victory in the Man o'War, With Anticipation joined Majesty's Prince (1983-'84); and Solar Splendor (1991-'92) as the only horses to win consecutive runnings of the Man o'War.

With Anticipation has won three Grade I races in a row: Monmouth's United Nations Handicap, Saratoga's Sword Dancer and Belmont Park's Man o'War. His respective margins of victory in those races were a neck, a head and a length.

Also expected for the Turf Classic are Ronald Nicholson's Blazing Fury, Team Valor Stable and Gary Barber's Delta Form, Richard A. Violette Jr.'s Man from Wicklow and David Heath's Ulundi.