The $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) was the highlight race of Belmont Park's Breeders' Cup Preview card held on Saturday October 7. However, a disappointing field size of just four went to the gate in this 1 1/4 mile feature, with 3-year-old Bernardini sent off as the heavy 2-5 favorite coming into the race with five straight wins, but taking on older horses for the first time. European shipper Dylan Thomas, winner of the Irish Derby and the Irish Champion Stakes, was the 9-2 second choice as the other 3-year-old in the field. Nick Zito trainees Wanderin Boy and Andromeda's Hero rounded out the quartet.
Wanderin Boy was allowed an easy lead through fractions of 25.03, 48.13, and 1:11.81 while being stalked by Bernardini to his outside. Entering the stretch, jockey Javier Castellano asked Bernardini for his best and got it, as the favorite collared the pacesetter just inside the 1/4 pole and then drew away through the stretch to a 6 3/4-length victory in 2:01.02. It was 6 more lengths back to Andromeda's Hero in third, and 19 more to Dylan Thomas in last.
Results chart from DRF
