Tonalist takes second straight Jockey Club Gold Cup

Tonalist, the Baron of Belmont, got back to his winning ways at his favorite track despite the sloppy conditions left behind by a combination of foul weather systems. Content to track the pace from the second half of the field, Tonalist came running in the stretch to overwhelm his rivals and draw away easily to win his second straight Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup.

At the break, Wicked Strong showed uncharacteristic early speed, rushing up the rail from post 1 to take the early lead. But when Constitution came at him to challenge for the lead, Wicked Strong settled and allowed that foe to go on with it. Effinex, Coach Inge, Tonalist and Looks to Spare settled in behind them.

With all content to maintain their running positions, Constitution set reasonable fractions in the mud. The opening quarter was put up in :24.35, the first half in :48.17 and three-quarters in 1:12.48.

On the far turn, Wicked Strong confronted Constitution from his spot tracking the pace in second, and the two raced stride-for-stride through the turn. At the top of the stretch, Wicked Strong then took over the lead, setting sail for home. While at first it looked as though the millionaire earner would get his first victory since taking the Jim Dandy last year, a photo in the winner’s circle was not to be on his agenda.

Behind Wicked Strong and Constitution, Tonalist moved off the rail and put in his bid for the lead, moving up to Wicked Strong’s inside a couple paths off the rail. With just an eighth of a mile left to run, Tonalist and jockey John Velazquez opened up on Wicked Strong to cross the wire 5 lengths ahead in a final time of 2:02.16 for the 1 ¼ mile event.

Winning jockey John Velazquez was much happier with how he rode Tonalist today as compared to in the Suburban. "I think [in the Suburban] I let him do what he wanted to do instead of taking hold of him. and he got caught,” he said. “Today, he was in the bridle and I kept him behind horses. [Turning for home] I was going inside or outside, but once he [Wicked Strong] started drifting out, I had to go inside. He was so much better today. Everything worked out perfect. He was so good and traveling so well throughout the race."

Wicked Strong held second, and Effinex ran evenly to capture third. Coach Inge, Looks to Spare and Constitution completed the order of finish.

Trainer of runner-up Wicked Strong Jimmy Jerkens was pleased with the colt despite the loss, and particularly appreciated the trip the colt got. “From where the gate is, if you're [in post No. 1], even if you don't want to be on the lead you should come out of there and make the horses run a little bit to cross over in front of you or else you're not taking advantage of the post,” he explained. “I was glad [jockey Joel Rosario] let the other horse go and Wicked Strong looked like he liked being up close. It looked like he tried and kept on a bit better than he usually does.”

As the even money favorite, Tonalist paid $4.00/$2.50/$2.10. Off 7-1 odds, runner-up Wicked Strong returned $5.30/$3.30, and Effinex, at 5-1 odds, returned $3.00. The $2 exacta paid $18.80, the $2 trifecta returned $42.80 and the $2 superfecta was worth $68.40.

By Tapit and out of the Pleasant Colony mare Settling Mist, Tonalist was bred by Woodslane Farm. He is owned by Robert S. Evans, for whom he has compiled a 14: 6-4-2 career record for earnings of $3,097,000. Five of his six wins were notched at Belmont Park.

Winning trainer Christophe Clement reminisced about the year Tonalist has had and how he never lost faith in the colt despite his losing streak this year. "We're back here, we won this race a year ago and it's great. I thought that even when he got beat this year, he never ran a bad race. He's a top class horse. We're back on top. I'm delighted for Mr. Evans. Obviously, he believed in us all along. And mostly I'm delighted for the horse, I've never lost my faith in the horse,” he reflected. “I never thought he was disappointing, he was a bit unlucky for the year, but the way he won today was very impressive. I was very happy with the way Tonalist was travelling. He always looked very comfortable. I thought that at any stage of the race, he could've taken them on. He's back to what I always believed. He's a top class horse. It's a wonderful race, it's great to win it two years in a row. Every start this year, I wouldn't have traded my position with anyone else, even when we got beat. People forget about him, but I never forgot about him."

The Jockey Club Gold Cup was the seventh and final “Win and You’re In” challenge event for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Tonalist was the seventh different challenge winner, and thus the seventh different runner to earns a fees paid berth to the World Championship event, to be held at Keeneland this year. The other challenge winners were Noble Bird, Hard Aces, American Pharoah, Honor Code, Beholder and Smooth Roller.