King Cugat Draws Post 5 for Turf Classic

Centennial Farm's King Cugat will go after his first grade I victory Saturday after drawing post 5 for the $750,000 Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont Park. The Bill Mott-trained 4-year-old son of Kingmambo will be ridden by Jerry Bailey and will face seven rivals.

The Turf Classic is part of "Champions on Turf" Day at Belmont that also includes the running of the Flower Bowl Invitational (gr. IT) for fillies and mares at 1 1/4 miles and the 6 1/2-furlong Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr. II), also for fillies and mares.

In five starts this year, King Cugat has just one win, a victory over rival Slew Valley in the Bowling Green Handicap (gr. IIT) earlier this year at Belmont Park. However, in his four defeats, he's never been more than a length back at the finish.

Trainer Michael Dickinson will send out a pair in the Turf Classic in Cetewayo and Slew Valley. Cetewayo, winner of the 1999 Sword Dancer Handicap (gr. IT), has only one start since winning last fall's Red Smith Handicap (gr. IIT).

The field for the $750,000 Turf Classic, 1 1/2 miles, turf
PP Horse Jockey
1 With the Flow Olivier Doleuze
2 Cetewayo John Velazquez
3 Mutafaweq Pat Day
4 Slew Valley Richard Migliore
5 King Cugat Jerry Bailey
6 Blazing Fury Javier Castellano
7 Timboroa Edgar Prado
8 Honor Glide Jose Santos

The Flower Bowl features a showdown between Beverly D. (gr. IT) winner England's Legend and perhaps England's best 3-year-old filly, Lailani. England's Legend has won three in row for trainer Christophe Clement. Lailani has won the Irish Oaks (Ire-I) and Nassau Stakes (Eng-I). She's won at distances from a mile to 1 1/2 miles. Bailey has the call on Lailani.

The Bobby Frankel-trained Starine, winner of the Diana Handicap (gr. IIT) at Saratoga, also figures to be prominent in this race.

The field for the $750,000 Flower Bowl, 1 1/2 miles, turf
PP Horse Jockey
1 England's Legend Corey Nakatani
2 Lailani Jerry Bailey
3 Spook Express Pat Day
4 Babae Jorge Chavez
5 Starine John Velazquez
6 Chaste Edgar Prado
7 Tweedside Richard Migliore

The field for the $250,000 Gallant Bloom, 6 1/2 furlongs, main track
PP Horse Jockey
1 Finder's Fee John Velazquez
2 Dat You Miz Blue Jorge Chavez
3 Gold Mover Edgar Prado
4 Cedar Knolls Jerry Bailey
5 Dream Supreme Pat Day