Change of fortune for Pletcher as Happy Saver strikes in Jockey Club Gold Cup

Happy Saver provided leading trainer Todd Pletcher with a first victory in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont, skimming the rail in the home straight to strike under Irad Ortiz by three quarters of a length.

Last year Vino Rosso passed the post first for Pletcher but was disqualified and placed second for interference behind Code of Honor.

"Not only had we not won it, we'd suffered some really close defeats, and then throw in a disqualification on top of that and it's been a frustrating one over the years," Pletcher said. "This one was fun. It's one of the races that has been hard on us. We've had some tough losses, and it was very fulfilling to win it today."

Happy Saver broke in front as the five-runner field headed to the rail, but Ortiz was more than happy to relinquish the early advantage to Tacitus. Happy Saver stayed along the rail and Mystic Guide tracked well off the rail.

Mystic Guide made his run to the lead on the turn and seemed to have the advantage, but Happy Saver was a determined partner for Ortiz.

"He has a big heart, like I told Todd in the paddock. He's a fighter,” Ortiz said. “Every time he has a horse in front of him and when you ask him to go, he passes the horse and then he puts his ears up."

"I was very proud of the horse and his performance," Pletcher said. "I'm happy for the connections. The Wertheimers have been loyal supporters for many years, and I'm appreciative of that. It's great to get a Grade 1 win for them."

Belmont: Flower Bowl Stakes (Grade 1) | 1m2f | f&m | turf

Civil Union earned a Breeders' Cup start by nipping My Sister Nat by a head in the $250,000 Flower Bowl Stakes. The race served as a Breeders' Cup Challenge qualifier for the Filly & Mare Turf, providing automatic paid entry, though winning trainer Shug McGaughey didn't immediately commit her after Saturday's race.

"It was probably a hard race on her, but she's a big and strong mare," he said. "I'll see what [owner Joe Allen] wants to do. If she was doing as well as she's done all summer, it's probably worth giving it a whirl. But I'll just have to wait and see."

Belmont: Champagne Stakes (Grade 1) | 1m | 2yo | dirt

Jackie's Warrior kept his perfect record intact and secured a five and a half length victory in the $250,000 Champagne Stakes.

Making his first start at a mile, the colt earned an automatic berth in the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile and he impressed his rider Joel Rosario.

"He's a beautiful horse; a big horse, and it looks like everything he does is easy for him," Rosario said. "I was very confident that he could get the mile. I felt confident the whole way. He just enjoyed what he was doing.

"I tried to get him away from there quickly and get position. I think the further he goes, the better. He seemed to do it very easy, and I was very confident in him. He's amazing."

Belmont: Frizette Stakes (Grade 1) | 1m | 2yo fillies | dirt

Dayoutoftheoffice held favourite Vequist by two lengths to win the $250,000 Frizette Stakes and earn a place in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

"She's a big, scopey filly, and I wanted to have some horse for the end of the year. The plan was to have a fresh horse for this time of the year," said Timothy Hamm, who notched his first Grade 1 victory.

"When you put a plan together that works – the team of [owners] Siena Farm and myself and all our assistants – you feel vindicated. We all thought this filly was special.”

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