Tizway to miss Gold Cup after spiking fever

Metropolitan H. (G1) and Whitney Invitational H. (G1) hero TIZWAY (Tiznow),

who would have been the likely favorite for the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup

(G1) on October 1 at Belmont Park, will miss the race due to a fever that he

developed on Thursday, causing him to skip a scheduled Friday workout.

"He spiked a fever on Thursday and was lethargic," trainer James Bond said.

"We treated him, but to work him at 70 percent, run in a tough race like the

Gold Cup, and then run in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) would be unfair to the

horse."

Bond said that William Clifton's colorbearer is still on schedule for a start

in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.

"He has been training brilliantly and will be ready to go a mile and a

quarter on November 5 (in the Classic)," said Bond, who added that if there is

too much bad weather at Saratoga Race Course, where Tizway is stabled, he will

ship him to Belmont to train.

Tizway will breeze next Thursday or Friday and be on a seven- or eight-day

workout pattern leading up to the Breeders' Cup, according to Bond.

After going 1-for-8 in graded stakes, taking last year's Kelso H. (G2) at

Belmont, Tizway has put together consecutive Grade 1 victories: a 2 3/4-length

triumph in the Metropolitan at Belmont on May 30, and a tour-de-force

three-length score in the Whitney at Saratoga on August 6. He is a leading

contender for champion older male and on the short list for Horse of the Year

honors.