Jockey Club Gold Cup 2016: Odds and Picks

The $1 million Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup is the last “Win and You’re In” race for the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Classic, and five horses will try to race their way into the Classic tomorrow at Belmont Park. For race picks, check out Jockey Club Gold Cup 2016: Odds and Analysis from Zipse at the Track.

Odds and post positions for the Jockey Club Gold Cup are below as seen on the HRN Stakes Tracker. War Story will be scratched.

Last year’s Breeder’s Cup Classic runner-up Effinex has won every other start this year, and looks to improve off finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap. Each of his five starts in 2016 have been at different tracks, but the Jockey Club Gold Cup sends him back to Belmont Park, where he won the Grade 2 Suburban Handicap in July.

The improving Mubtaahij is taking his shot at the Jockey Club Gold Cup as well and takes on Effinex for the second time. The two first met in the Suburban Handicap this year where Mubtaahij ran third, but was only 1 ½ lengths behind Effinex. He then ran a game second in the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes to finish second in a blanket finish and beat out Frosted.

Hoppertunity, the horse who is always consistent, will also take his shot at the Jockey Club Gold Cup. He has not had a win since the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes in February, but has been running against the big horses on the West coast. Hoppertunity’s win was followed by a third place effort in the Dubai World Cup, and two fourth place runs in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita and the Pacific Classic, all three being Grade 1 races. He will likely be close behind Effinex and Mubtaahij if they run their race.

By Christine Oser