By Joe Bianca
When the New York Racing Association introduced the two-mile Belmont Gold Cup Invitational S. three years ago, it was a race sure to attract interest from long-winded European runners more conditioned to marathon turf races than their American counterparts. Friday's renewal, which includes a graded designation for the first time and no American standouts like last year's winner and top U.S. marathoner Da Big Hoss (Lemon Drop Kid), has garnered the strongest foreign participation yet.
The field of 13 includes six European shippers, led by 2016 runner-up Now We Can (GB) (Martillo {Ger}). Since his Belmont foray a year ago, the gelding was third in the G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil and G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris and finished eighth of 16 in the G1 HH The Emirs Trophy Feb. 25 at Doha before running fourth in the G3 Prix de Barbeville last out Apr. 30 at Chantilly.
“I'm very pleased with how he's been, and he ran very well there last year so we're hoping for another good performance,” said trainer Nicolas Clement, brother of Christophe. “He's an 8-year-old now, but he's a frequent flyer. He's been a consistent horse, he stays, so this race is very good for him.”
The lukewarm morning-line favorite is Australian Bloodstock's Red Cardinal (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) who, with four wins in eight starts, is also the most lightly-raced horse in the group. Narrowly missing German Group 1 glory when second at 12-1 in the G1 Preis von Europa last September at Cologne, the dark bay scored in his 2017 bow over this distance in the G2 Comer Group Intl Oleander-Rennen May 14 at Hoppegarten.
Ascendant colt Wall of Fire (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) looms a threat as well. Closing out his sophomore campaign with a win going 1 13/16 miles at Doncaster last summer, the bay finished sixth of 14 in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup Mar. 25 at Meydan and comes in off a fourth-place run in the G3 Boodles Diamond Ormonde S. May 12 at Chester. St Michel (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) also is worthy of respect, by virtue of a perfect three-for-three record over the distance. The 4-year-old, like Wall of Fire receiving Lasix for the first time, was third behind GISW Sheikhzayedroad (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G2 Doncaster Cup on the same card as Wall of Fire's 3-year-old finale.
The best hope for the home country appears to be Michael M. Hui's Taghleeb (Hard Spun). Claimed for $62,500 by trainer Mike Maker last summer, the chestnut is the only American with a win going two miles, having captured the H. Allen Jerkens S. Dec. 31 at Gulfstream. He doubled up in the GIII William L. McKnight H. there Jan. 28 and was fourth in the GII Pan American S. before running a distant second last out in the GI Man O' War S. here May 13.
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