Cigar and Thunder Gulch to Meet Saturday at Belmont
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The first meeting between Cigar and Thunder Gulch will take place three weeks earlier than expected.
The country’s best horse and the Kentucky Derby winner weren’t scheduled to meet until the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but Thunder Gulch’s trainer, Wayne Lukas, changed his plans, and his 3-year-old will take on Cigar in the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Saturday at Belmont Park.
The race, which has been shortened two furlongs this year to 1 1/4 miles, is one of six stakes Belmont will have on its Breeders’ Cup Preview day. The others are the $250,000 Frizette for 2-year-old fillies, the $200,000 Kelso on grass, the $250,000 Beldame for older fillies and mares, the $500,000 Turf Classic and the $500,000 Moet Champagne for 2-year-olds.
Cigar, who has won 10 in a row, is the 1-5 favorite, and Thunder Gulch, who most recently won the Kentucky Cup Classic, is the 4-1 second choice.
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