Highland Falls hounds pace, wins Jockey Club Gold Cup

Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Godolphin breeds horses with races like the 1 1/4-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup in mind. Flavien Prat, after being dominant on the West Coast, moved his tack east with races like the Gold Cup in mind.

Godolphin and Prat joined forces most impressively Sunday when Highland Falls wore down pace-setting favorite Arthur’s Ride to capture the Grade 1, $1 million Gold Cup by four lengths at Saratoga.

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Pyrenees and Disarm also benefited from the immense pressure the winner exerted on Arthur’s Ride. They came on to be second and third, respectively. Worn-out Arthur’s Ride, authoritative the front-running winner of the Whitney (G1) four weeks ago, faded to fifth in Sunday’s seven-horse field.

Trainer Brad Cox said of the willingness to attack Arthur’s Ride and his jockey Júnior Alvarado, “He’s obviously proved he’s a Grade 1 horse. We weren’t going to just let him walk the dog. We wanted to be aggressive, and it paid off for us.”

Prat kept Highland Falls at the flank of Arthur’s Ride and rode with the confidence that has marked his efforts throughout what has been a stellar meet for him.

“I thought the distance would suit him,” he said simply.

The 4-year-old son of two-time horse of the year Curlin out of the Awesome Again mare Round Pound displayed a beautiful combination of speed and stamina in earning his first Grade 1 score. He improved his record to 9: 5-2-1 and became racing’s newest millionaire. The winner’s share of $550,000 for the 106th edition of the Gold Cup hiked his earnings to $1,192,060.

Cox said of the Grade 1 breakthrough, “It’s huge. Obviously he’s a huge pedigree. He’s a good physical. He’s a Godolphin homebred, so that tells you right there he’s got a beautiful page and a beautiful pedigree. I think that earned him a spot in the stallion barn.”

The outcome also was huge for Prat. The Gold Cup marked his Saratoga record 13th graded-stakes victory with one race card remaining in the 40-day meet. He has swept 17 stakes races overall, also a record.

“It’s a great honor,” he said. “It’s obviously a great group of riders and very talented riders. I’ve been learning a lot around them.”

Cox was quick to credit Prat.

“I thought Flavien gave him every chance to win the race,” he said. “When they straightened up, it looked like he was getting the better of him, and then I started watching the horses coming up from the back. He held them back. I was very proud of the effort.”

Arthur’s Ride asserted himself by taking the field through early fractions of 23.25, 47.67 and 1:11.31. But he always could feel the menacing presence of Highland Falls – until it all became too much.

Highland Falls completed the distance in 2:03.25 on the fast main track. He returned $16.00 on a $2 win wager.

Hall of Famer Bill Mott, who conditions Arthur’s Ride, was surprised in one sense but not in another.

“I knew they were going to try to keep him up in the race. I don’t think it was any secret,” he said. “Frankly, I was a little surprised they were able to keep him there that close. I mean he took it to us. I don’t have any big excuse.”

Highland Falls earned an automatic berth in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 2 at Del Mar. Cox said Sunday’s winner will be shipped to Churchill Downs with the Classic “in play” depending on how the horse trains.

Mott, noting he has 60 days to regroup, said Arthur’s Ride remains a Classic candidate.