Fields shaping up for Belmont Park's Super Saturday

The Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational,

one of six graded stakes on September 28 at Belmont Park, is expected to be a

showdown between Kentucky Derby winner Orb, Belmont Stakes victor Palace Malice

and many of the top older males, according to NYRA Vice President and Director

of Racing P.J. Campo.

Most recently, Orb and Palace Malice were third and

fourth, respectively, in the Travers at Saratoga. Also expected for the 1 1/4-mile

race are the respective top-two finishers from the Woodward, Alpha and Flat Out (winner of the

past two editions of the Jockey Club Gold Cup); Whitney Invitational

Handicap hero Cross Traffic; and last-out Philip H. Iselin victor Last

Gunfighter, who was runner-up in the Suburban Handicap in early July.

Liaison and Ron the Greek are possible.

A field of seven turf stars, including Grade 1 winners Big

Blue Kitten and Boisterous and defending Breeders' Cup Turf scorer Little

Mike, is expected for the Grade 1, $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational.

Big Blue Kitten, star of the Sword Dancer

Invitational at Saratoga and United Nations at Monmouth Park, will be

making his first appearance at Belmont since 2011, when he won a starter

allowance and an allowance, while Boisterous is 6-0-3 in 10 turf starts at his

home track, including a victory in the Man o' War and a third-place

finish after an eventful trip in the Bowling Green Handicap earlier this month.

Winless in four starts this year following his 17-1 upset

of last year's Breeders' Cup Turf, Little Mike is 1-0-0 from two starts at

Belmont, having won an optional claimer in 2010 and finished fifth in the 2012

Turf Classic.

Also expected for the 1 1/2-mile Turf Classic are Boisterous' stablemate Imagining, front-running winner of the Idle Rich overnight stakes

last out at Saratoga; Nutello, third in the Sword Dancer in his American

debut; Slumber, who launched his stateside career with a pair of optional

claiming wins at Saratoga for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott; and Sword Dancer

runner-up and dual Grade 2 winner Twilight Eclipse.

King Kreesa, second in the Fourstardave

Handicap to reigning Horse of the Year Wise Dan last time out, is possible.

Fillies and mares will travel 1 1/4 miles on the turf in the

Grade 1, $600,000 Flower Bowl Invitational. Trainer Alan Goldberg and owner

Richard Santulli are expected to have a powerful 1-2 combination with Laughing

and Tannery.

Laughing has won three straight, including the Diana and

Ballston Spa, while Grade 2 queen Tannery was fourth in the Sword

Dancer Invitational against males in her most recent start. Also probable are

Kissable, Mystical Star, Qushchi, Somali Lemonade, Valiant Girl and White Rose.

The winners of Saratoga's two Grade 1 races for older

sprinters will meet again in the Grade 1, $400,000 Vosburgh Invitational at six

furlongs. Justin Phillip captured the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, then was

third in the Forego behind winner Strapping Groom. The probables also include 2012 Vosburgh victor The Lumber Guy, as well as Bahamian

Squall, Candyman E, Forty Tales and Palace.

Royal Delta, aiming for her third Eclipse Award, will try for

a title defense in the Grade 1, $400,000 Beldame Invitational, a 1 1/8-mile race

for fillies and mares. Most recently, she took the Personal Ensign

Handicap by 4 1/2 lengths. Her competition is expected to include Kentucky Oaks, Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama heroine Princess of Sylmar

as well as And Why

Not, Authenticity, Centring and Go Unbridled. Lady Cohiba is possible.

Graydar will return from a six-month absence when he

competes in the Grade 2, $400,000 Kelso Invitational Handicap. Earlier this

year, he conquered the Donn Handicap and New Orleans

Handicap. Also probable are Brujo de Olleros, Hymn Book, Jaguar Paw and Souper

Speedy. Ron the Greek is also under consideration.

The graded stakes action will continue on September 29 with a pair of

six-furlong races for two-year-olds -- the Grade 2, $200,000 Futurity and Grade

2, $200,000 Matron.

In the Futurity, recent maiden winners In Trouble and Sound

of Freedom will take on Big Sugar Soda and Saratoga Special winner

Corfu, fourth and ninth, respectively, in the Hopeful. Financial Mogul

and Howaboutwe are possible.

Miss Behavior will step up in class for the Matron, which

is restricted to fillies. She is unbeaten in two starts, including an 8 1/4-length

romp in the Sorority at Monmouth Park. Joining her on the list of probables are

Brazen Persuasion, Cynical Storm, Grace, Sweet Whiskey and Yes Liz. Miss

Narcissist is possible.

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