Runner-up to Siskany in last year’s Belmont Gold Cup (G2), The Grey Wizard took top honors in Thursday’s renewal at Saratoga.

The four-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival opens Thursday at its temporary home of Saratoga, with the Belmont Gold Cup (G2) anchoring a quartet of stakes on the card.

Collared late by Broome in the Dubai Gold Cup (G2) on World Cup night, Godolphin’s Siskany had no such rival to deny him in Friday’s $250,000 Belmont Gold Cup (G2).

For the fifth year in succession, the two-mile Belmont Gold Cup (G2) proved ripe for the taking by a European shipper. The German gelding Loft did the honors in Friday’s renewal at Belmont Park, rolling from well off the pace to set a new course record.

Friday’s segment of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival features three terrific turf stakes - the New York (G1), Belmont Gold Cup (G2), and Intercontinental (G3).

Mean Mary defends title in talent-filled New York; Baron Samedi invades for Gold Cup at Belmont Park for Belmont Stakes week.