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).

If not for a brief virus, Highland Chief would have contested last Saturday’s Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) at Aqueduct. But trainer Graham Motion’s fallback plan worked out just fine.

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).