The highway to the 2025 Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional makes an vital cease at Saratoga Race Course Labor Day weekend on Sunday, Aug. 31, as older male grime horses go 1 ¼ miles within the $1 million Jockey Membership Gold Cup Stakes. The Grade 1 stakes will likely be a Breeders’ Cup Problem Collection “Win and You’re In” qualifier for this fall’s $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
The Jockey Membership Gold Cup will likely be held for the 107th time in 2025 and is likely one of the Thoroughbred racing’s most long-lived and prestigious races. For many years earlier than the creation of the Breeders’ Cup, the JCGC served as a de facto fall championship race within the handicap division. Within the Breeders’ Cup period, the race has developed into one of many key nationwide prep races for the Traditional. As such, the Jockey Membership Gold Cup has been gained by a roll name of legends by way of its illustrious previous, together with Man o’ Battle, Gallant Fox, Battle Admiral, Quotation, Hill Prince, Nashua (twice), Sword Dancer, Kelso (5 occasions), Buckpasser, Damascus, Arts and Letters, Shuvee (twice), Forego, Exceller, Affirmed, John Henry, Slew o’ Gold (twice), Straightforward Goer, Cigar, Skip Away (twice), Mineshaft, Humorous Cide, and Curlin (twice), simply to call just a few. Final yr’s winner was Highland Falls, who will likely be again to aim to defend his title.
The Jockey Membership Gold Cup was moved from its conventional dwelling at Belmont Park to Saratoga in 2021. At Saratoga, the race is now a two-turn, 1 ¼-mile occasion. Previous to 1990 the race had been contested at 1 ½ miles. Earlier than 1976 it had primarily been run at two miles.
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This 2025 renewal of the Jockey Membership Gold Cup has drawn a aggressive all-star subject of horses pointing the Breeders’ Cup Traditional. A number of of the contenders are anticipated to advance. The race will likely be broadcast nationwide on FOX and has a scheduled publish time of 1:45 p.m. ET.
Learn on for details about the 2025 Jockey Membership Gold Cup contenders.
1. Disarm (15-1 morning-line odds)
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Coach: Steve Asmussen
House owners: Winchell Thoroughbreds
Profession file: 17 begins – 4 wins – 3 seconds – 4 thirds
Profession earnings: $1,559,165
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 107
Pedigree: Gun Runner – Straightforward Faucet, by Tapit
Age: 5
Colour: Chestnut
Working fashion: Nearer
Evaluation: Disarm is knowledgeable, stakes-level veteran 5-year-old whose greatest achievements place him a rung beneath the highest contenders within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup. He’s a stone nearer that by no means threatened final day out within the Whitney Stakes however was capable of arrive on the scene in late stretch to safe a third-place end behind Sierra Leone, overwhelmed three lengths. Disarm completed fourth and third, respectively, at Saratoga in final yr’s Whitney Stakes and Jockey Membership Gold Cup, and that kind of also-ran efficiency appears to be his ceiling in opposition to this caliber of competitors. Thereby, he optimistically could possibly be worthy of together with within the rear areas of trifecta or superfecta bets if the tempo of this race melts down and sets-up his grinding late transfer, however even that is likely to be lots to ask right here on this exceptionally powerful spot. Jockey Joel Rosario gained this race in 2014 aboard Tonalist, and coach Steve Asmussen is a four-time winner of this race together with, most notably, back-to-back wins in 2007-08 with Curlin.
Guess Disarm within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup.
2. Highland Falls (5-1)
Jockey: Luis Saez
Coach: Brad Cox
House owners: Godolphin
Profession file: 12 begins – 6 wins – 3 seconds – 1 third
Profession earnings: $1,512,660
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 113
Pedigree: Curlin – Spherical Pond, by Superior Once more
Age: 5
Colour: Chestnut
Working fashion: Stalker
Evaluation: Highland Falls confirmed up with a career-best effort in final yr’s Jockey Membership Gold Cup, which he gained by 4 lengths with a 113 Equibase Velocity Determine. He had been away from racing for almost eight months following a disappointing ninth-place end within the 2024 Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional, however the Godolphin homebred was capable of shake off the rust and kick off his 5-year-old marketing campaign on June 27 with a simple one-mile allowance non-obligatory claiming win by 5 ½ lengths at Belmont on the Large A. Highland Falls then was strong in defeat final time when he completed a promising second within the Whitney Stakes behind Sierra Leone by solely a size, and additional enchancment could possibly be imminent if he continues to cycle into his greatest kind. This stalker has the power to remain nearer to the tempo when he must and was capable of make the most of that tactical pace to his benefit when he gained this race final yr.
Guess Highland Falls within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup.
3. Sierra Leone (8-5)
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Coach: Chad Brown
House owners: Peter Brant, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, and Brook Smith
Profession file: 12 begins – 5 wins – 4 seconds – 3 thirds
Profession earnings: $6,806,200
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 117
Pedigree: Gun Runner – Heavenly Love, by Malibu Moon
Age: 4
Colour: Darkish bay or brown
Working fashion: Nearer
Evaluation: The 2024 Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional champion returned to his greatest kind final day out with a victory within the Whitney Stakes at Saratoga the place he beat Highland Falls by a size. The Whitney win received Sierra Leone off the schneid on the Spa the place his file beforehand had been 0-for-3. With a view to repeat within the JCGC he might want to flip the tables on Mindframe, who beat him two races in the past on June 28 when the pair met within the Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs. Sierra Leone is a more in-depth that sometimes wants a quick tempo to assist arrange his stretch kick. Logically this longer distance within the JCGC ought to assist his late run much more than within the 1 1/8-mile Whitney, however that is probably not the case because the 1 ¼-mile distance typically has not been favorable to closers at Saratoga in stats going again 25 years on the primary monitor. Opposite Considering, owned by Peter Brant, served as Sierra Leone’s tempo “rabbit” within the Whitney (a horse entered to make sure a swift tempo that ought to profit a stablemate) and once more will fill that function on this race. Search for Sierra Leone to be making up floor within the stretch right into a place to safe no worse than a top-three end, the place he’s ended up in all 12 of his profession races. Jockey Flavien Prat, who gained this race final yr aboard Highland Falls, will maintain his common mount aboard Sierra Leone. Coach Chad Brown has gained nearly each different top-level race on the New York circuit however will likely be searching for his first profession win within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup.
Guess Sierra Leone within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup.
4. Mindframe (2-1)
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Coach: Todd Pletcher
House owners: Repole Secure and St. Elias Secure
Profession file: 7 begins – 5 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $1,844,580
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 118
Pedigree: Structure – Stroll of Stars, by Road Sense
Age: 4
Colour: Darkish bay or brown
Working fashion: Stalker
Evaluation: The Grade 1 Stephen Foster Stakes winner will likely be one of many favorites and horses to beat within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup based mostly on his undefeated 3-for-3 marketing campaign this yr that additionally contains wins within the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes Introduced by Home Product and the $1 million, Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes Introduced by Ford the place he defeated a trio of main next-out stakes winners – Banishing, Nysos, and E book’em Danno. After beating Sierra Leone within the Stephen Foster with a 118 Equibase Velocity determine, Mindframe stayed out of Saratoga’s Whitney Stakes with a view to keep away from going up in opposition to his Mike Repole stablemate Fierceness, and he as an alternative has been pointed to this race for the final two months. Mindframe has raced simply as soon as at Saratoga thus far in his profession when he completed a strong second forward of Sierra Leone within the 2024 Belmont Stakes, overwhelmed by Dornoch in what was additionally his solely race to this point at this 1 ¼-mile distance. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. is a two-time winner of the JCGC, as is coach Todd Pletcher whose most up-to-date win got here in 2023 with Vivid Future for these identical possession connections.
Guess Mindframe within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup.
5. White Abarrio (8-1)
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.
Coach: Saffie Joseph Jr.
House owners: C Two Racing Secure, Gary Barber, and La Milagrosa Secure
Profession file: 22 begins – 10 wins – 2 seconds – 3 thirds
Profession earnings: $7,091,920
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 122
Pedigree: Race Day – Catching Diamonds, by Into Mischief
Age: 6
Colour: Grey or roan
Working fashion: Stalker
Evaluation: White Abarrio is all the time a looming menace on the highest ranges based mostly on his career-best efforts similar to when he gained the 2023 Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional (for a unique coach) and extra just lately when he gained this January’s $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes. He’s nonetheless harmful for coach Saffie Joseph Jr., however on the down facet, he enters this race coming off back-to-back subpar efforts when fourth in each the Grade 1 Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap and the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes. He misplaced the Whitney to a few of the rivals he’ll face Sunday, so he’ll be in want a serious constructive turnaround. Longtime common jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. is dedicated to trip Mindframe, so Ricardo Santana Jr., who gained the JCGC in 2021, is slated to choose up the mount.
Guess White Abarrio within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup.
6. Opposite Considering (50-1)
Jockey: Dylan Davis
Coach: Chad Brown
Proprietor: Peter Brant
Profession file: 6 begins – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $110,040
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 95
Pedigree: Into Mischief – Valadorna, by Curlin
Age: 5
Colour: Bay
Working fashion: Velocity
Evaluation: This gelding served as Sierra Leone’s tempo “rabbit” within the Whitney Stakes, speeding as much as the entrance and making certain setup for his late-running stablemate till he emptied out again to final. An allowance winner in June at Belmont on the Large A, Opposite Considering little doubt will likely be meant to fill the identical rabbit function once more within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup.
Guess Opposite Considering within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup.
7. Phileas Fogg (15-1)
Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche
Coach: Gustavo Rodriguez
Proprietor: Jupiter Secure
Profession file: 18 begins – 9 wins – 4 seconds – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $736,773
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 111
Pedigree: Astern – Merino, by Extra Than Prepared
Age: 5
Colour: Bay
Working fashion: Velocity
Evaluation: This gelding has gained 9 profession races and has completed within the exacta in 13 of 19 lifetime begins. He efficiently made the transfer up into stakes firm in his breakthrough within the $150,000 Queen County stakes final December at Aqueduct which he gained by eight lengths. Since then, he’s completed an in depth second within the Grade 3 Pimlico Particular Stakes and added victories within the 1 ¼-mile Excelsior Stakes and the 1 ¼-mile Grade 2 Suburban Stakes Introduced by Subourbon, which he gained at this monitor and distance final time by a head over Antiquarian. Phileas Fogg has been making a dwelling by racing on or near the tempo in distance grime races and bottoming-out fields of horses that may’t sustain with him. The water is about to get a complete lot deeper right here, nevertheless, with the likes of Mindframe, Sierra Leone, and Highland Falls giving chase. His greatest likelihood within the JCGC will likely be to get to the lead, hope to have the ability to management the tempo, get courageous, and beat the late runners to the end. That form of situation is feasible, however not possible.
Guess Phileas Fogg within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup.
8. Antiquarian (12-1)
Jockey: John Velazquez
Coach: Todd Pletcher
Proprietor: Centennial Farms
Profession file: 8 begins – 3 wins – 3 seconds – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $394,100
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 111
Pedigree: Preservationist – Lifetime Reminiscence, by Istan
Age: 4
Colour: Chestnut
Working fashion: Press the tempo/stalker
Evaluation: Antiquarian completed fifth in his solely foray to this point on the Grade 1 stage, which got here within the 2024 Belmont Stakes. That race ended up being the ultimate begin of his 3-year-old season however he has since returned from almost a yr layoff to begin a promising 4-year-old marketing campaign with a win and two stakes placings in three outings thus far this yr. He chased Phileas Fogg final time at this monitor and distance within the Grade 2 Suburban Stakes Introduced by Subourbon and made a late bid however by no means received previous that rival to accept a neck defeat in second. Antiquarian has a tempo urgent, up-close stalking working fashion much like that of another extra achieved rivals on this race together with Mindframe and White Abarrio, and it could be a troublesome process for him to beat horses like that at their very own sport whereas additionally getting previous Phileas Fogg and holding off closing Sierra Leone. Coach Todd Pletcher has gained the Jockey Membership Gold Cup twice together with with Vivid Future two years in the past. Jockey John Velazquez has gained the JCGC 3 times, most just lately through disqualification aboard Code of Honor in 2019.
Guess Antiquarian within the Jockey Membership Gold Cup.
9. Banishing (15-1)
Jockey: Jose Lezcano
Coach: David Jacobson
House owners: Lawrence P. Roman and David Jacobson
Profession file: 23 begins – 9 wins – 5 seconds – 2 thirds
Profession earnings: $1,890,709
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 116
Pedigree: Ghostzapper – Dowager, by A. P. Indy
Age: 5
Colour: Chestnut
Working fashion: Stalker
Evaluation: Banishing enters the Jockey Membership Gold Cup with simply over per week between begins as he gained the $1 million Charles City Traditional Stakes Aug. 22 in opposition to a Grade 2 subject that got here up quite comfortable. Banishing will likely be making his 10th begin of 2025 on this race and has 4 wins this calendar yr with one other graded stakes win coming again in March within the $500,000, Grade 3 Oaklawn Mile Stakes. The gelding has demonstrated tempo versatility all through his profession and got here from behind to win at Charles City, however he additionally has gained from on or near the lead. He’s additionally versatile from a distance perspective with wins starting from six furlongs to 1 1/8 miles. Banishing is a neat racehorse that may do lots of issues nicely; nevertheless, the one factor he’s but to show is the power to beat horses of the caliber of those he’ll face within the JCGC. He’ll want a career-best effort.
