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​The Grey Wizard wins all-gray three-way photo in G2 Belmont Gold Cup

by Mary Eddy

Three gray heads hit the wire together after two laps around the Saratoga Race Course inner turf Thursday, but it was the late-running The Grey Wizard who proved superior in the Grade 2, $250,000 Belmont Gold Cup, a two-mile marathon for older horses, at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course.

The Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which spans Thursday through Sunday, is highlighted by the 156th edition of the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday, June 8. The four-day Festival will include 24 stakes races with purses totaling $10.25 million, the highest purse levels and number of stakes offered since the launch of the multi-day Festival in 2014.

Trained by Graham Motion and masterfully piloted by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, The Grey Wizard, who was second in this event last year, swept from well off the pace to land his first graded stakes victory, as well as a “Golden Ticket” automatic berth into the Group 1, AUD$8.4 million Lexus Melbourne Cup on November 5 at Flemington Racecourse in Victoria, Australia.

"That was cool,” said Motion. “He’s a little bit of a tough horse to watch. I was never sure he was going to get there, to be honest. This is what he wants to do, and he’s very good when he gets to do it.”

Leigh Jordan, Executive General Manager – Racing for Victoria Racing Club, said he is pleased to partner with NYRA on an afternoon that saw the Melbourne Cup trophy appear on-site for fans to take photos with the prestigious chalice.

“It was the first time we’ve brought the Cup to Saratoga and started developing the relationship with NYRA and the officials,” said Jordan. “We talked to them about coming here with the ‘Cup Tour,’ which goes all around the world, 39 destinations, and a lot of different countries. This race was here, the Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup, and is perfect for the Melbourne Cup. We thought it would be a great idea to give the winning horse a guaranteed start.”

Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and The Estate of Albert Frassetto, The Grey Wizard earned his dramatic victory after an off-the-pace trip engineered by Velazquez from post 9, settling in last-of-10 through the first mile as the always-prominent So High sprinted to the front to lead over the firm footing. Lucky Curlin tracked in second with a large gap back to defending race winner Siskany, the post-time mutuel favorite under William Buick.

So High maintained his lead heading into the backstretch for the second time with Lucky Curlin still in pursuit, but the two faded quickly as Champagne Juan made a bold bid up the rail and Siskany was coaxed along in the three-path with Limited Liability looming along his right flank. A patient Velazquez guided his charge around the backpedaling Lucky Curlin in the final turn to put The Grey Wizard within striking range as Champagne Juan and Limited Liability battled on the lead at the stretch call.

Siskany would not come up victorious in this year’s edition as he faded in upper stretch, conceding to Champagne Juan as he dug in gamely along the inside with the Eric Cancel-piloted Limited Liability gaining with every stride in the two-path. The Grey Wizard still had plenty of work to do in the final eighth of a mile while racing on the far outside of the course, but zeroed in on his foes in the final sixteenth.

All three grays were just inches apart in the shadow of the wire, but it was The Grey Wizard who would earn the invitation to ‘the race that stops a nation™,’ posting a head score in a final time of 3:18.35 over Champagne Juan, who was a head better than Limited Liability.

It was a further 3 1/4 lengths back to Really Good in fourth with Six Minus, Pioneering Spirit, Siskany, Cibolian, Lucky Curlin and So High completing the order of finish. Starting Over, Sports Editor, and main track-only entrants Costa Terra and Dai Vernon were scratched.

Champagne Juan, piloted by Hall of Famer Joel Rosario, was pulled up in the gallop out and was vanned off. Per NYRA Veterinary Department Director Dr. Sarah Hinchliffe, Champagne Juan sustained a suspensory injury to his right front and is resting comfortably in his stall.

Velazquez, who was aboard The Grey Wizard for two allowance wins last year, praised his mount’s ability to adapt and overcome a less-than-ideal early position.

“He’s one of those horses who can always show up whenever he wants to and today was the day. I know the horse well,” said Velazquez. “I broke well, but he didn’t get the position I wanted to, so I had to drop in there and wait and wait. When we went past the wire the first time, I tried to make a move to get them because they were going so slow [up front] and that kind of worked, so then I sat behind them again. It worked out perfectly.”

Motion said the win was meaningful to him and the family of co-owner Al Frassetto, who recently passed away.

“The amazing thing about it is that Al Frassetto who was the co-owner, he was so passionate about international racing, and he died this week,” said Motion. “I wish Al was here. He would have loved this.”

Motion said the addition of a “Golden Ticket” to the Melbourne Cup is an intriguing one, having previously considered sending his multiple Grade 1-winning multi-millionaire Better Talk Now to the famous race.

First run in 1861, the 3200-meter race is the richest two-mile handicap in the world and one of the richest turf races. The event starts at 3:00 p.m. on the first Tuesday of November, as part of a public holiday in Victoria, and is known locally as, ‘the race that stops a nation™.’

“I love the concept. Ask me again in October,” said Motion. “I’m huge about international racing. I love this idea. It’s a huge undertaking to do that, but it’s nice to think about. We thought about it with [Better Talk Now], but it’s tough to do. It’s tough to get handicapped the right way, it’s tough to do the shipping, it’s tough to do the quarantine. But this is an incentive.”

Bred in Ireland by Longfield Stud, the 5-year-old Caravaggio gelding entered from a third-place effort in the Grade 3 Louisville on May 18 at Churchill Downs, and adds to a resume that includes four graded stakes-placings. He banked $137,500 in victory while returning $14.40 for a $2 win ticket.

The Charlie Appleby-trained Siskany, who made his first start off a more than two-month layoff, won his first two starts this year at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.

“He traveled well. He was just a bit disappointing today," said jockey William Buick.

Live racing resumes Friday at Saratoga for Day Two of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, headlined by the Grade 1, $750,000 New York presented by Rivers Casino in Race 11. The stacked 12-race card also features the Grade 1, $500,000 Just a Game in Race 10, the Grade 1, $500,000 DK Horse Acorn in Race 12, and the Grade 2, $200,000 Intercontinental presented by MTV Solutions in Race 9. First post is 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.belmontstakes.com/event-info/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, and the best way to bet every race of the four-day meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.