Watershed and Sentiero bid for G1 Belmont Park success

Watershed and Sentiero Italia each go after a first G1 victory at Belmont Park, USA, on Saturday, October 6.

Both four-year-olds are trained by Kiaran McLaughlin and ridden by Joel Rosario, with Watershed lining up in the 98th running of the Jockey Club Gold Cup (17.23hrs local time) over a mile and a quarter on dirt.

The Bernardini colt was sixth on his only previous outing over the distance in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 Sponsored by Emirates at Meydan, UAE, in March, and has run promising races over nine furlongs on his two most recent starts.

After a length victory in an allowance optional claimer at Saratoga in July, Watershed kept on to finish third in the G3 Philip H Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park on August 27.

He is drawn five in a field of six that also includes Mubtaahij and Hoppertunity, who were second and third respectively in this year’s G1 Dubai World Cup, and G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up Effinex.

Kiaran McLaughlin commented: "We feel that a mile and a quarter will suit Watershed well.

"He has done extremely well since he ran at Monmouth, and this doesn’t look the toughest US$1-million G1 race, so we are happy to give him a try.

"We think that he has a sneaky chance of winning."

The Jockey Club Gold Cup is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race offering an guaranteed and free place in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on November 5.

Sentiero Italia also faces five rivals, headed by G1 winners Lady Eli and Sea Calisi, in the Flower Bowl Stakes (15.03hrs) over 10 furlongs on turf. She is drawn in stall four.

The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro captured a pair of G2 contests last year, including a decisive win in the Sands Point Stakes over nine furlongs at Belmont Park, and was third in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes at Keeneland 12 months ago.

She has made two appearances, both over an extended mile at Saratoga, so far during 2016, following up a routine success in an allowance optional claimer with a good third in the G2 Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa Stakes on August 27.

Kiaran McLaughlin added: "Sentiero Italia might be on or near the lead this time because there looks to be no pace in the race. It could be a worry, but it might also be a plus for us.

"She is doing really well, likes running at Belmont and gets a bit of weight from three of her rivals."

The Flower Bowl is a "Win and You're In" designated race for the G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita on November 5.