Trainer Albert Stall, Jr. said Friday that Grade 1 Whitney
winner Blame would arrive at Belmont
Park on Thursday,
September 30, in advance of his expected next start in the Grade 1, $750,000
Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational, one of five Grade 1 Races scheduled for
Super Saturday, October 2.
“He’ll breeze twice more at Keeneland – this Sunday
[September 19] and on the 26th,” said Stall, who trains the
4-year-old son of Arch for Adele B. Dilschneider and Claiborne Farm. “The plane
leaves Kentucky for New York on Thursday morning and he’ll go
into John Terranova’s barn.”
Blame breezed six furlongs over the Keeneland Polytrack on
September 12, covering the distance in 1:11.80, handily.
“His last work was a really strong work,” Stall said. “He’s
doing great; he’s ready. He’s a very happy horse – not picky about anything. We
thought he was doing great [in Saratoga]
this summer and we’re looking forward to heading back that way.”
Blame has won five consecutive races, including a pair of
Grade 1 contests in the Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs on June 12, and the
Whitney Handicap at Saratoga Race Course on August 7, in which he upset another
top older male in training, Quality Road, who went on to win the Grade 1
Woodward in his next start.
Among those Blame could face in the Gold Cup are the 1-2
finishers from the Grade 1 Travers Stakes, Afleet Express and Fly
Down, as well as Rail Trip, who missed by a half-length in the July
10 Hollywood Gold Cup. Dry Martini, sixth on the grass in the Grade 2
Bowling Green at Belmont
on September 11, could also start.