Overnight rains soaked Belmont Park for Super Saturday and its 6 Breeders' Cup prep races, led by the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) for older horses prepping for the Classic. A field of 7 older horses went 1 1/4 miles on the muddy main track before the 10,481 fans in attendance, with Stay Thirsty sent off as the 6-5 favorite in his first start against older horses, after winning the Jim Dandy (G2) and Travers (G1). In to challenge him included the 7-5 Preston Stables entry of Woodward (G1) runner-up Flat Out and Brooklyn (G2) winner Birdrun, and 8-1 third choice Drosselmeyer, 7th in the Sword Dancer (G1) last out.
Jockey Rajiv Maragh sent 11-1 Rodman to the lead on the clubhouse turn and he set easy fractions of 24.17, 48.56, and 1:12.66 while as many as 2 lengths ahead of Birdrun and Stay Thirsty stalking the pace second and third. On the far turn, Rodman tired as Flat Out, who sat 4th early, moved up to take a short lead through 1 mile in 1:37.29. 9-1 fourth choice Drosselmeyer, fifth early, put in a late rally, catching Stay Thirsty late, but was no match for Flat Out who cruised under the line 2 1/4 lengths in front in 2:03.17 over the sealed muddy surface. Half a length separated runner-up Drosselmeyer and favorite Stay Thirsty in third.
Results chart
Also on the card were the Beldame Stakes, the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, the Vosburgh Stakes, and the Flower Bowl Invitational.
