Alpha tops field for Hawthorne Gold Cup

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Stickney, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Woodward Stakes winner Alpha headlines a field of nine for Saturday's $350,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup at Hawthorne Race Course.

Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin and owned by Godolphin Racing, Alpha had drawn post 5 with Eddie Castro getting the riding assignment in the 1 1/4-mile stakes.

The 4-year-old is coming off an eighth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita. The colt's only victory this year came in the Woodward at Saratoga on Aug. 31.

Last year, he finished in a dead heat with Golden Ticket as co-winners of the Travers. Alpha has banked $1,779,167 with six wins in 18 career starts.

Multiple stakes winner Last Gunfighter will start from post 3 with Joe Bravo coming in to ride. The 4-year-old colt is owned by John Gunther and trained by Chad Brown.

Last Gunfighter was fifth in the Breeders' Cup Classic four weeks ago, but posted wins this year in the Evening Attire, Excelsior, Pimlico Special and Iselin Handicap. He was also second to Flat Out in the Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park on July 6.

The colt has won half of his 14 lifetime starts for $815,405.

From the rail out here is the full field for the Gold Cup: Mister Marti Gras, Eduardo Perez; Derby Kitten, Channing Hill; Last Gunfighter, Joe Bravo; Hattaash, Emmanuel Esquivel; Alpha, Eddie Castro; Fordubai, Diego Sanchez; Prayer for Relief, Chris Emigh; Suns Out Guns Out, Francisco Torres and Street Spice, Alex Canchari.

Post-time for Hawthorne Gold Cup will be approximately 6:43 p.m. (ET).