Flat Out goes for third straight Jockey Club Gold Cup

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Elmont, NY (Sports Network) - Only one horse in the history of the Jockey Club Gold Cup has won the race more than two times in a row, that being the great Kelso who captured the stakes five straight times from 1960-64.

Saturday at Belmont Park, Flat Out will attempt to notch his third consecutive win of the $1 million Gold Cup at Belmont Park with a berth in the Breeders' Cup Classic on the line.

The 1 1/4-mile Gold Cup is a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" race which gives the winner an automatic spot in the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park.

Junior Alvarado will again be aboard Flat Out and start from post 6 in the eight-horse field.

Flat Out won the 2012 Jockey Club Gold Cup before finishing third to Fort Larned in the Classic. Owned by Preston Stable, he is coming off a second in the Woodward at Saratoga behind Alpha and two spots ahead of stablemate, Ron the Greek.

"Flat Out has never disappointed anybody here," said trainer Bill Mott of the 7-year-old. "He's doing well and he certainly likes it here."

Flat Out has won eight of 26 career starts for $3,095,383.

Ron the Greek, also trained by Mott, drew the inside post with jockey Jose Lezcano.

The all-star field includes Kentucky Derby winner Orb, Woodward champ Alpha, Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice and Whitney Handicap champ Cross Traffic.

The post-time for the featured event in Belmont Park's "Super Saturday" is set for 5:50 p.m. (ET).

Here is the complete field in post position order for the Gold Cup: Ron the Greek, Jose Lezcano, 12-1; Orb, Javier Castellano, 9-2; Last Gunfighter, Rajiv Maragh, 10-1; Vitoria Olimpica, Irad Ortiz Jr., 20-1; Alpha, Joe Bravo, 8-1; Flat Out, Junior Alvarado, 3-1; Palace Malice, Mike Smith, 4-1 and Cross Traffic, John Velazquez, 5-2.