Motown Men On Course for Gold Cup

Bargain claim Motown Men, winner of the $150,000 Tiznow Stakes on May 23, is on course to face Catch a Flight and Moreno, the one-two finishers in the Grade II Californian Stakes on May 30, in the Grade I, $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita at 1 ¼ miles next Saturday, June 27.

“We thought he might be a little bit knocked out coming out of the Tiznow,” trainer Ted H. West said, “because he had run three bang-up races in six weeks, so everything would have had to go perfect to make the Gold Cup five weeks after his last race.

“But so far, so good. He recently worked 59 and one and just did it awesome, and came back six furlongs last Sunday in 1:11.40, so if everything goes absolutely perfect from here, we’ll take a shot against the big boys.”

Motown Men is expected to have his final pre-Gold Cup breeze on Sunday. He was claimed for $40,000 three starts before the Tiznow and has earned $148,000 since.

FINISH LINES: Victor Espinoza will make a special appearance and ride on the $1.175 million Summit of Speed program at Gulfstream Park on Sunday, July 5. “I’m very much looking forward to a return to South Florida and Gulfstream Park,” Espinoza said in a statement. “If I remember right, my last time there was the Breeders’ Cup of 1999.” The 43-year-old native of Mexico rode Kirkwall to an eighth-place finish behind Silic in the 1999 Breeders’ Cup Mile…The City of Sierra Madre will be giving Espinoza, a resident of Sierra Madre, a special commendation for his part in winning the Triple Crown at its next City Council meeting on Tuesday, June 23. The Triple Crown winning jockey will also be honored with a convertible ride in the annual Sierra Madre Fourth of July Parade this year. The parade will begin at 10:00 a.m. 

Source: Santa Anita Park