Gold Cup

(Grade 1)

IT would be fair to say jockey Victor Espinoza has had a good year so far. After taking the first American Triple Crown in 37 years, Espinoza added the $500,000 Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita last Saturday to the tally.

With an ideal trip on Hard Aces, Espinoza saved ground by the rail, seized an opening and held off a late challenge from Hoppertunity to win the 10-furlong test over the main track at Santa Anita Park by just a nose. The five-year-old horse by Hard Spun has stamped his ticket into the $5 million Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic this October.

Electing to ride 7/1 choice last minute over Grade 1 winner Finnegans Wake, Espinoza was pleased with his decision:

“I decided not to encourage him early and save ground, I thought my best shot was to save ground and get through on the inside, and it worked out well.”

Both Finnegans Wake and Hard Aces seemed to make their move at the same time, but Mike Smith took his accomplished turf runner to the outside, while Espinoza took the inside route. Hoppertunity, ridden by Martin Garcia for trainer Bob Baffert, also had to travel five wide into the stretch.

“We got a good trip,” winning trainer John Sadler said. “We were hoping the pace would be there... but it’s got to come together. Victor did a beautiful job with him. He’s ridden him a few times and he’s not an easy horse to ride.”

The Gold Cup win was the first graded victory for Hard Aces in his fifth try. His only other Grade I attempt was a fourth-place finish in the Santa Anita Handicap, where he finished behind Gold Cup runners Moreno and Catch A Flight.