Six Ohio-bred 3-year-olds will contest Cleveland Gold Cup

A compact field of six Ohio-bred 3-year-olds will contest the $75,000 Daniel Stearns Cleveland Gold Cup at JACK Thistledown Saturday. All will be trying the 1 1/8-mile distance for the first time.

 

One of two entered by trainer Tommy Drury Jr. for Maccabee Farm, Strike Your Light comes in off a five-length win in the 1 1/16-mile Green Carpet Stakes on the Belterra Park turf May 28. To his advantage, he already answered whether he can also win a route on dirt; as a 2-year-old he won a mile optional allowance at Churchill Downs in a race taken off the turf. Malcolm Franklin was aboard for his last two starts and comes in to ride Saturday.

 

Drury also entered Tough It Up, who made up a dozen lengths to win the Juvenile Stakes on the Mahoning Valley dirt last year and ran second in the Green Carpet in his most recent race, both at 1 1/16 miles. John McKee has been his only rider and has the call again Saturday.

 

Coincidentally was second, beaten a neck, in a mile allowance race at Thistledown just two weeks ago. Likely to contest the early pace Saturday, he won three straight state-bred sprints earlier this year, including his first off a five-month layoff in March and the Howard B. Noonan Stakes at Mahoning Valley a month later. Pablo Morales rides for trainer Tim Hamm.

 

Most recently fourth in the Green Carpet, Hansenation also brings speed to the Cleveland Gold Cup. His fourth in the Rushaway Stakes at Turfway Park in March is the best finish among the three here (Strike Your Light and Cake Pop the others) who raced in open stakes. T. D. Houghton rides for trainer Mike Maker.

 

The 5-2 morning line favorite, Cake Pop has the field’s biggest bankroll and the most experience with $158,240 in 11 starts. His last two races—third in the Green Carpet and fifth in the Sydney Gendelman Memorial Stakes, also at Belterra—came on the turf at 1 1/16 miles. Manny Cruz has the mount for the first time. Michael Lauer trains.

 

Undefeated in two state-bred sprint starts and making his second start this year, Shadeslayer steps up in both class and distance for trainer Doug Cowans. Rex Stokes III rides.