Borrego - 2005 Jockey Club Gold Cup

A better quality and longer version of the very first video I posted more than three years ago. Still a classic. Check it out for the tremendous finish.
Trainer Beau Greely shipped Borrego from California to New York because he thought the late-running horse would appreciate Belmont's long stretch. Little could Greely have imagined that Borrego would have already taken control of the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup well before he turned for home.
Borrego stamped himself as a leading contender for the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic here on Oct. 29 by rolling to a 4 1/2-length victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. His margin could have been greater, but jockey Garrett Gomez geared Borrego down for the final furlong.
Suave finished second, 5 3/4 lengths ahead of Sun King. It was another five lengths to Flower Alley, the 3-2 favorite. Imperialism, Grand Reward, Lava Man, and Bishop Court Hill completed the order of finish.
Borrego added the Gold Cup to his victory in the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar, making him the first horse to win both races in the same year.
"Did I think he'd win like that? No,'' said Greely, who trains Borrego for a partnership headed by Jon Kelly and Brad Scott. "I thought he had a shot to win, though."
The Gold Cup couldn't have set up any better for Borrego, who lingered in the back of the pack while Bishop Court Hill, who was in the race to serve as a rabbit for Flower Alley, wound up dueling with a rank Flower Alley and Lava Man through a half-mile in 46.30 seconds. Gomez let Borrego gallop down the backside, and around the turn launched a slingshot move at the seven-sixteenths pole to take the lead just before the quarter pole.
Gomez hit his horse once in the stretch, but basically began to pull him up inside the eighth pole. Borrego, a son of El Prado, covered the 1 1/4 miles in 2:02.86 and returned $10.60 as the third choice.
"I really wasn't planning to move as early as I did, but he was doing everything so easily I didn't want to take a chance on letting something recoup and give me a run for our money at any time," Gomez said.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Throughbred
• Horse
• Racing
• 2005
• Jockey
• Club
• Gold
• Cup
• Borrego
• Belmont
• Park
• Tom
• Durkin
• New
• York
• NYRA

[Kellsboro]

Thanks for posting a more clean version of this race. Previous edition(s) on youtube that I've shared with friends over the years were hard to see that blitz on the outside.

He was an under appreciated horse who added some sheer excitement and wining some big grade 1 races.

[cf1970]

You're very welcome.

[gregcz2000]

I still think this is one of the most memorable races I have seen on Youtube, and it was one of the videos that I checked for and I'm glad weren't under the party account. The move on the far turn by the eventual winner is as powerful as I have seen in a Grade 1 race, and this is definitely a great place for you to begin your uploads. Thanks for sharing!

[cf1970]

Thank you for the support. I was fortunate to use this race as my first upload; I was amazed that it hadn't been used already.

I appreciate your comments very much.

[horseyaddicted]

Woo!

[cf1970]

That's likely what Gomez said when Borrego took off. What a ride that must have been...

[gullybear20]

So glad I finally found this race on here! I've been wanting to see it again for ages! Thanks for posting this!

[1948BigCy]

I LOVE stretch runners like Borrego!! Like he was shot out of a cannon!!

Check out Gorella's Bevery D. Equally electric, plus a track record.

[horseyaddicted]

Hahaha,indeed!

[terjer01]

One of my favorite Tom Durkin calls ever: his "ca-ta-pult-ing past the field" and his "in hand... IN HAND!!!" are epic Thanks for sharing, my friend!

[cf1970]

I'm happy that this brought you so much joy, my friend. Borrego was incredible on this day.

Take care.