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Led by the top three finishers of the GI Travers S., sophomores will be well-represented while facing older horses in today’s GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. Since 2000, the “Win and You’re In” event for the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic has been captured by a 3-year-old four times–Albert the Great (2000); Bernardini (2006); Curlin (2007); and Summer Bird (2009). The list is even more impressive going back further with the honor roll highlighted by Man o’ War (1920); Crusader (1926); Gallant Fox (1930); Citation (1948); Hill Prince (1950); Counterpoint (1951); High Gun (1954); Nashua (1955); Sword Dancer (1959); Kelso (1960); Buckpasser (1966); Damascus (1967); Arts And Letters (1969); Temperence Hill (1980); Slew o’ Gold (1983); Easy Goer (1989); and Skip Away (1996). 

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens was the only one who didn’t have to sweat out the Travers photo last month when V. E. Day (English Channel) nipped Wicked Strong (Hard Spun) by a nose. The Magalen Bryant colorbearer is perfect in three starts on dirt, including Saratoga’s Curlin S. July 25. He enters riding a four-race winning streak. Stablemate Wicked Strong, meanwhile, posted a breakthrough victory in the GI TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial S. at Aqueduct before rolling a pair of fours in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont S. The addition of blinkers has sharpened him up in his last two attempts, headed by a powerful win over Belmont S. hero Tonalist (Tapit) in the GII Jim Dandy S. July 26. Wicked Strong is the slight favorite in the program at 3-1. 

“I realized inside the eighth pole it was going to be between our two [horses],” Jerkens said. “I thought Wicked [Strong] was going to hold on, but [V. E. Day] switched his lead and surged the last three jumps and nailed him right on the wire. I mean it was really the very last jump. It was disheartening for Wicked Strong. You know, he ran so hard. He didn’t cut out the pace, but he was pretty close to a lively pace. He pretty much ran all the way.”

“TDN Rising Star” Tonalist rounds out the big three. A dominating winner in a sloppy renewal of the GII Peter Pan S. May 10, the Robert S. Evans runner surged late to get the money at 9-1 in the final leg of the Triple Crown. Beaten 2 1/4 lengths in the Jim Dandy, trainer Christophe Clement has made an equipment change following Tonalist’s somewhat disappointing third in the Mid-Summer Derby.

“Tonalist was a little more aggressive than I wanted him in both races in Saratoga,” Clement said of taking the blinkers off here. “He’s an older horse than he was in May or June and he’s more mature. He’s been working without blinkers after the Travers and has been working very well.”

Moreno (Ghostzapper) set a blistering pace and was reeled in late by Zivo (True Direction) in the track-and-trip GII Suburban H. July 5. He posted a much-deserved first win at the highest level in Saratoga’s GI Whitney H. Aug. 2, then was caught in deep stretch in a thrilling renewal of the GI Woodward S. Aug. 30. The speedy Southern Equine homebred should have plenty of company up front courtesy of West Coast shipper Big Cazanova (Arg) (Giant’s Causeway). The chestnut was acquired privately by a group headed by Adam Wachtel following a pair of track-record setting performances at Del Mar July 26 and Aug. 28, respectively. 

The aforementioned New York-bred Zivo made it six straight wins when rallying from far back to upset the Suburban at 13-1. He showed some late interest to finish fourth in the Woodward last time. 

“He ran well in the Suburban, he can handle a mile and a quarter, and he likes Belmont’s track,” trainer Chad Brown said of Zivo. “We gave him a prep race in the Woodward, and I thought he ran well considering the little bit of a layoff, cutback, and how Saratoga maybe isn’t his favorite track. He seems to be coming into the Jockey Club Gold Cup in terrific shape.”