Kent Desormeaux aboard Golden Missile after crossing the finish line to win the Pimlico Special on May 13.
Stronach Stable's Golden Missile heads the list of horses likely to enter Saturday's $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup (gr. III). The Pimlico Special Handicap (gr. I) winner will arrive at Hawthorne either Thursday or Friday ahead of the 1 1/4-mile race.The Joe Orseno trainee came home second in last year's renewal, won by Supreme Sound, prior to running third in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I). Golden Missile is following the same itinerary this year and will then retire to stud. Kent Desormeaux will be in the irons on Saturday.Mula Gula, second to Blazing Sword in the Washington Park prior to finishing third in the Arlington Million (gr. IT), is also likely for the Gold Cup. The 4-year-old Little E. Tee colt has won five of 18 career starts, including the Oak Tree Derby (gr. IIT) and Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Derby (gr. IIIT).Others pointing for the Gold Cup include Washington Park Handicap (gr. II) winner Blazing Sword, who finished fifth in the Philip H. Iselin Handicap (gr. II) in his most recent start. Puerto Madero, fourth in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I), will be ridden by Laffit Pincay Jr. in Saturday's race. The Chilean-bred has won win to his credit in the last two years, a 2 3/4-length win over Behrens in the 1999 Donn Handicap (gr. I), in which Silver Charm was third. Since the Dubai World Cup, Puerto Madero finished last of seven in the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap (gr. II).The other probables, according to Hawthorne, are Hall of Fame Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. III) winner Guided Tour; Catienus, second in two consecutive renewals of the Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II); Dust on the Bottle; El Ballezano; Maracaibo; and Where's Taylor. (More, Golden Missile To Stand at Adena Springs)
