SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Parchment Party was among the trio of horses entered with main-track-only status for Friday’s marathon Belmont Gold Cup at Saratoga. As the race card began with sunny skies, the three horses had not yet officially been scratched, but it began to appear unlikely they would make the field.
“We got to 1 in the afternoon and it looked like we’re not going to run,” said trainer Bill Mott, who had both Parchment Party and Timeout playing the waiting game. “We were giving the horses their regular lunch, and then all of a sudden, I looked, and I said, ‘Oh we’d better change course here and get these horses ready to run.’ “
Rain began falling at Saratoga around 2:30 p.m. and steadily intensified. About an hour before post time, as the Gold Cup field was preparing to head to the assembly barn, the race was still officially on the turf, but Mott decided to bring his horses over.
“Cleaned them up and put the bridles on them and brought them over,” Mott said. “I thought, worst thing that can happen is, we bring them to the holding barn and the paddock and if we have to scratch if they don’t take it off, we’ll take them back to the barn.”
It was quite a while before Parchment Party headed back to the barn, and it was with a stakes win and a hefty check to his name. The Belmont Gold Cup was announced as off the turf as the race prior was getting ready to run. With John Velazquez picking up the mount, Parchment Party cruised to an 8 1/2-length victory on the sloppy, sealed main track in the $250,000 Belmont Gold Cup.
The Gold Cup, shortened from its original two miles to 1 3/4 miles on the main track, was automatically downgraded one level, to a Grade 3 event, because of the change of surface. The American Graded Stakes Committee can review the race and restore its status.
Parchment Party ($16) was seventh in the field of eight with six furlongs remaining as Yo Daddy, another main-track-only entrant, had cruised through relatively unpressured early splits, hitting the opening mile in 1:38.56. Parchment Party made a strong move overland down the backstretch, and came to the half-mile pole in second and with dead aim on Yo Daddy, still more than three lengths in front, as the top two began to separate themselves from the field. Parchment Party steadily gained around the turn, put his head in front at the quarter pole, and surged clear in the lane. He finished the route in 2:57.86 and earned a career-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure.
Yo Daddy was a clear second, 14 1/2 lengths clear of Padiddle, who came on from last in the starting field of eight. The latter edged Flatten the Curve by three-quarters of a length. Flatten the Curve, who came over having won four consecutive stakes on the turf Europe, turned in a creditable effort with the late surface switch.
“We are very disappointed because of the change from grass to dirt, but he ran a good race, and if it were on the grass, he would have had a very good chance to win,” trainer Henk Grewe said.
The top four were followed in order by Curbstone, Timeout, Tawny Port, and Grand Sonata. Timeout was the post-time favorite, and Mott said he “didn’t know” immediately how to explain the performance, but suspected the colt had not handled the wet track.
Limited Liability, who had been 2-1 for morning-line favoritism in the main body of the field, Anglophile, La Mehana, and Lord Flintshire were the scratches when the race was taken off the turf. The Ginger Wizard had been scratched from the race earlier in the week with an issue.
Although it was taken off its original surface, the Belmont Gold Cup remained a "win and you're in" event toward the Melbourne Cup this fall in Australia. Representatives from the race were on hand for the Gold Cup – which was called by Australian announcer Matt Hill, borrowing the mix from Frank Mirhamadi – and the Melbourne Cup trophy itself was brought into the winner's circle presentation. Still, Mott said Parchment Party, who is owned by the Pin Oak Stud of Jim and Dana Bernhard, is a virtual certainty to pass on the race, as the Melbourne Cup is on turf.
Parchment Party won his first two career starts, both at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt, in 2023, but had been winless since. That included two outings on turf earlier this year. Mott entered him in the Belmont Gold Cup hoping to get to run the horse a route of ground.
“The distance was why we were there to begin with,” Mott said. “No matter when we ran him, he’d gallop out in front of the competitors. … I’d love to go to a race like the Melbourne Cup, but when I do, I want to go with the right horse.”
Parchment Party was the right horse for the circumstances Friday, and that was all he needed on the day.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.