Ron the Greek made a big move along the rail inside the final quarter mile to storm away to victory in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at odds of 21/1. Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice finished second while two-time JC Gold Cup winner Flat Out finished third. Kentucky Derby winner Orb didn't run a step in the race and finished last of the field of eight. Cross Traffic, an expected pace setter and winner of the Whitney last time out, stumbled from the gate and never raced anywhere near the pack.
Time will tell what this Gold Cup teaches us for the Breeders' Cup Classic, but I think we can make at least a few observations:
1. Ron the Greek can fire a big race once and a while, and he just fired a huge one at Belmont.
2. Palace Malice rebounded nicely from his disaster in the Travers and was a good second but will need to improve to be a BC Classic winner.
3. Orb looked great in the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby. Orb has not looked anywhere near as good since. I wouldn't bet a dime on him at the Breeders' Cup but I doubt that will be an issue after this flop.
4. Flat Out is such a great "old pro"; race after race, year after year, he just does what he does - cash checks.
Below are the payouts for the Jockey Club Gold Cup:
| Horse | Win | Place | Show |
| 1-Ron the Greek | $44.00 | $17.40 | $7.20 |
| 7-Palace Malice | $5.00 | $3.10 | |
| 6-Flat Out | $2.50 |
| Base | Bet | Combo | Payout | Pays to - |
| $1.00 | Exacta | 1/7 | $111.00 | |
| $1.00 | Trifecta | 1/7/6 | $369.50 | |
| $0.10 | Superfecta | 1/7/6/4 | $313.00 | |
| $1.00 | Double | 7/1 | $217.50 | |
| $1.00 | Pick 3 | 1/7/1 | $430.00 | 3-of-3 |
| $0.50 | Pick 4 | 8/1/7/1 | $1,810.25 | 4-of-4 |
Trakus Fractions:
| Distance | Fractions | Internal |
| 1/4: | 24.29 | 24.29 |
| 1/2: | 47.44 | 23.15 |
| 3/4: | 1:10.90 | 23.46 |
| Mile: | 1:35.37 | 24.47 |
| 1 1/4: | 1:59.92 | 24.55 |